Exclusive Interview: Michelle Buteau on the Final Season of Survival of the Thickest

Michelle Buteau is a comedian, actress, writer, and producer who is the creative force behind the Netflix comedy-drama series Survival of the Thickest. Based on her 2020 autobiographical essay collection, Survival of the Thickest: Essays of a Plus-Size Girl in a Small-Minded World, Buteau serves as both the creator and star of the series. As the show enters its third and final season, we caught up with the powerhouse to discuss Mavis’ final chapter, the themes behind the series, and what’s next after Survival of the Thickest.

In-Between Phases of Adulthood

Inspired by her own life experiences, Buteau explores the often-overlooked “in-between” phase of adulthood in your late 30s and early 40s. Instead of presenting a character who has life perfectly figured out, she allows viewers to see Mavis in all her moments of uncertainty and reinvention. Across the series, audiences have watched Mavis navigate the highs and lows of self-discovery, relationships, and career shifts, and in this final season, we see Mavis really lean into the unexpected changes and new seasons of life.

“I feel like I haven’t seen it on TV before, and if it has been showcased, it’s been through just a very white lens, and I think something happens when you are entering your 40s that nobody really talks about, like a lot of people will put a lot of importance on turning 21 or 30, but because we can, you know, pursue that career later in life, or the family, or the partnership, or whatever it is that we want. I’m like, there’s still something that happens when, like, you’re 38 or 39 of just like, uh, oh, this is the first half of my life. What’s the next half going to be? You know, or even exploring your sexuality and, you know, gender identity. It’s like, you know, I think something happens where we’re like, okay,  I’ve got to start living.”

The Power of “No”

Rejection is a universal experience in adulthood, and Buteau doesn’t shy away from it. She recently shared the mantra she leans on whenever she’s met with a “no”—in love, work, or within the industry:

“If they don’t want to hear from you, they’ll hear about me. Bye b****!”

When asked how that shows up in her real life and in the writing this season, she explains:

“It’s like water—it serves me no matter what. Family, the internet, a studio… if you don’t want to hear from me, that’s okay. If you don’t get it, it’s not for you to get. I should be with people who get it—and you might just hear about me and not be able to afford me, and that’s okay.”

“No matter what we do in life—job, career, love—we’re going to experience rejection. You have to know how bad it gets before you know how good it can be.”

Chosen Family

Beyond navigating rejection, the final season also explores the people who help us through life’s hardest moments, emphasizing the importance of having a chosen family during vulnerable times. Buteau recalls a piece of advice that has stayed with her.

“My friend Don Will told me bad thoughts are fleeting—but it’s really hard to know that when you’re in a dark moment.”

She admits she’s felt lonely even with a strong network around her, which made her think about viewers who don’t have that same support. That empathy helped shape the show’s final season. “It’s a comedy, but I don’t think you can enjoy comedy in this day and age without knowing that it’s real life.”

Caribbean Roots

Having a Jamaican mother and a Haitian father,  Buteau draws heavily from her rich Caribbean roots, infusing her storytelling with boldness and authenticity. Reflecting on how her heritage has influenced her work, Buteau says:

“For me, it’s radical self-joy and celebration—a celebration of bodies. People will say, ‘You cuss too much,’ or ‘Why is it so sexy, so bright and bold, why all the dancing?’ And I’m like, this is who we are. This is who we’ve always been.”

For Buteau, that spirit of celebration is especially important during difficult times. She believes joy can exist alongside hardship.

“No matter what’s happening in the world, no matter who’s on the ticket to vote for, no matter what protest I’m chafing at, I’m also going to Carnival to play mas and chafe. I want to have a wedgie and twerk on people I don’t know. That’s a celebration of the body. And so I think, and I hope that people get that through my work. You know what I mean? It’s big, it’s bold, it’s bright, it’s unapologetic, and that’s who we should be, too.”

While Survival of the Thickest marks the end of one chapter, Buteau is already onto the next with a European comedy tour, her upcoming Netflix special, and her new movie, Spa Weekend, hitting theaters on August 20. Much like Mavis, she’s embracing whatever comes next.

Watch the third and final season of Survival of the Thickest, now streaming on Netflix.

Watch the season trailer here

Photos courtesy of Netflix.