America's Next Top Model Runner Up To Play Whitney Houston In A Biopic

Former America’s Next Top Model contestant Yaya DaCosta, who has carved a career as an actress these days, landed the role of Whitney Houston in Lifetime Network’s new biopic on the singer’s life and death. The biopic is reported to be in the production stages, and Yaya recreated Whitney’s 1987 album cover in a photo shoot. 

And while its apparent that Yaya Dacosta may not be able to recreate the late star's legendary voice, she's doing her best to get the look down.The 31-year-old channeled the pop diva's 1987 Whitney album cover in the first photo released from the upcoming Lifetime biopic.

“I just looked at the picture and did the pose,” she told Entertainment Weekly.

While many fans are excited about the project, the Greatest Love Of All performer's family are none-to-pleased about the film.

According to TMZ, Whitney's family are 'p***ed' it is a made-for-television movie because they feel she deserves so much more.

Pat Houston, Whitney's sister-in-law, who features in the reality show, The Houstons, told the gossip site:

 'Whitney is certainly worthy of more than a television movie. If Whitney were here today, this would not be happening.'

The singer's loved ones are instead planning their own big screen movie in the style of Michael Jackson's 'This Is It', which they feel would be a more fitting tribute to the musical icon.

Post America;s Next Top Model, Yaya DaCosta began acting in 2005 after having a small role in an episode of Eve called Prom Night. Since then she has acted in three major motion pictures: Take the Lead, Honeydripper and The Shanghai Hotel. She also acted in a TV movie called Racing for Time. She was recently cast on All My Children as Cassandra Foster, the daughter of Angie Hubbard.

Yaya stared in last year"s critically acclaimed film, The Buttler, with Oprah Winfrey and Forrest Whitaker. Not too shabby for that rowdy ghetto girl on ANTM.  

The Lifetime (which will be on DSTV from this month) biopic will be directed by Angela Basset and is scheduled to air in 2015.