FIRST LOOK...YAYA DA COSTA AS WHITNEY HOUSTON

It’s finally here: Your first look at Yaya DaCosta as 80s pop icon Whitney Houston.

As previously reported, the former “America’s Next Top Model” beauty landed the role of a lifetime when she auditioned for Angela Bassett and reportedly blew the Academy Award nominated actress away.

Angela is directing Lifetime’s upcoming biopic on the singer, reportedly set to be released sometime this fall.

In the above photo, Yaya recreates the cover to Whitney’s 1987 album “Whitney,” and called the shoot pretty easy.

“My modeling background definitely came in handy,” Yaya told Entertainment Weekly. “I just looked at the picture and did the pose.”

The internet’s reaction to the first image of Yaya has Whitney has been pretty mixed. Some think she recreated the look perfectly, with others claiming she looks like a cheap version of Whitney.

I definitely fall in line with those who are ok with the image. Yaya doesn’t have to be a Whitney clone. Angele Bassett looks nothing like the real Tina Turner, but as we know, she worked the hell outta that role and effortlessly mastered all of Tina’s dance moves.

I have no doubt Yaya will also rise to the occasion, and I look forward to the first trailer, which I’m sure we’ll get within the next few weeks.

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