Survival of the Thickest
2023 comedy-drama television series
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Survival of the Thickest is a comedy-drama television series co-created by Michelle Buteau and Danielle Sanchez Witzel for Netflix, based on a memoir of the same name. The series stars Buteau as a woman attempting to rebuild her life after a breakup.[1][2][3] The series was released on July 13, 2023. In early 2024, Netflix announced that the show was renewed for a second season,[4] which premiered on March 27, 2025.[5] In May 2025, the series was renewed for a third and final season,[6] which premiered on July 2, 2026.[7]
- Michelle Buteau
- Danielle Sanchez-Witzel
by Michelle Buteau
- Danielle Sanchez-Witzel
| Survival of the Thickest | |
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| Created by |
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| Based on | Survival of the Thickest by Michelle Buteau |
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| Starring |
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Country of origin | United States |
Original language | English |
| No. of seasons | 3 |
| No. of episodes | 24 |
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Executive producers |
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Production location | |
| Running time | 22–28 minutes |
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| Original release | |
| Network | Netflix |
| Release | July 13, 2023 – July 2, 2026 |
Premise
Recently turned single Black woman, Mavis Beaumont attempts to rebuild her life after "putting all of her eggs in one man's basket". As a struggling stylist, she is about to face various hurdles ahead as she tries to get herself together. Alongside her friends and relatives, she tries to survive and break through her problems, career and relationship-wise, with her "body-positive attitude, cute v-neck, and some lip-gloss".[3][8]
Cast
Main
- Michelle Buteau as Mavis Beaumont
- Tone Bell as Khalil Holland
- Tasha Smith as Marley (recurring season 1, main season 2)
- Marouane Zotti as Luca (recurring season 1-2, main season 3)
Recurring
- Anissa Felix as India (season 1)
- Garcelle Beauvais as Natasha Karina
- Taylor Selé as Jacque (season 1)
- Peppermint as a fictionalized version of herself
- Anthony Michael Lopez as Bruce
- Liza Treyger as Jade
- Becca Blackwell as Day
- Allan K. Washington as Trent
- Jerrie Johnson as Daphne (season 2)
- Alecsys Proctor-Turner as Nala
- Tika Sumpter as Simone (season 2)
- RonReaco Lee as Charles Renee
- Ronny Cheng as Donnie Wang (season 3)
- Ashley Romans as Imani (season 3)
Guest
- Nicole Byer as herself (season 1)
- Michelle Visage as Avery (season 1)
- Ambre Anderson as Dr. Britta (season 1)
- Sarah Cooper as Sydney (seasons 1-3)
- Anderson .Paak as himself (season 2)
- Monét X Change as a fictionalized version of herself (season 2)
- Monia Lea Rafaeli as Gabriella (season 2)
- Rolanda Watts as Adrienne (seasons 2-3)
- Wanda Sykes as Dr. Terri Lynn (season 3)
- Ashley Graham as herself (season 3)
- Jenna Lyons as herself (season 3)
- Ice-T as Charcoal Jackson (season 3)
- Kandi Burruss as Drea Jay (season 3)
- D. L. Hughley as Tariq (season 3)
Episodes
Series overview
Season 1 (2023)
| No. overall | No. in season | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original release date | |
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| 1 | 1 | "Keep Your Plants Watered, Bitch." | Linda Mendoza | Michelle Buteau & Danielle Sanchez-Witzel | July 13, 2023 | |
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After a shocking discovery forced her to make a fresh start, a heartbroken Mavis lets loose during a night out and keeps it real with an old associate. | ||||||
| 2 | 2 | "Be a Bad Boss Bitch, Bitch!" | Linda Mendoza | Grace Edwards | July 13, 2023 | |
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While adjusting to life as a newly single woman, Mavis takes on a styling gig for a former supermodel who goes viral and inspires a new perspective. | ||||||
| 3 | 3 | "You Did What in Public, Bitch?" | Kim Nguyen | Solomon Georgio | July 13, 2023 | |
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Mavis springs into action when a drag queen has a wardrobe malfunction and a late-night date with a charming stranger turns into a sticky situation. | ||||||
| 4 | 4 | "Are You Crying, Bitch?" | Kim Nguyen | E. R. Fightmaster | July 13, 2023 | |
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While preparing for a high-profile wedding, Mavis juggles client demands and romantic dilemmas. Marley receives a tempting offer. Khalil shoots his shot. | ||||||
| 5 | 5 | "It's Any Given Sunday, Bitch!" | Amy Aniobi | Ian Edwards | July 13, 2023 | |
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A drop-in visit from an unexpected guest has Mavis questioning her decisions and long-distance relationship. A racist encounter catches Khalil off guard. | ||||||
| 6 | 6 | "Do the Right Thang, Bitch." | Amy Aniobi | Hillary Handelsman | July 13, 2023 | |
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Booked and busy, Mavis secured a dream job styling a lingerie launch celebrating body positivity but struggles to set boundaries when conflicts arise. | ||||||
| 7 | 7 | "Let it Out, Bitch!" | Kimmy Gatewood | Danielle Sanchez-Witzel & Julia Lindon | July 13, 2023 | |
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A health emergency pushes an anxious Mavis to find a release and weigh her options as her parents pressure her to give an old flame a second chance. | ||||||
| 8 | 8 | "For a Bigger Purpose, Bitch." | Kimmy Gatewood | Michelle Buteau | July 13, 2023 | |
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A tense dinner puts Khalil in the hot seat. While throwing a special teen prom, Mavis gets caught in a predicament and must decide what her heart wants. | ||||||
Season 2 (2025)
| No. overall | No. in season | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original release date | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9 | 1 | "When in Rome, Bitch!" | Kim Nguyen | Michelle Buteau | March 27, 2025 | |
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A lovestruck Mavis is swept off her feet in a sexy Roman rendezvous. However, unresolved decisions from the past may complicate her future with Luca. | ||||||
| 10 | 2 | "Dreams Do Come True at Afropunk, Bitch." | Kim Nguyen | Solomon Georgio | March 27, 2025 | |
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At the Afropunk festival, Mavis seizes the opportunity to elevate a celebrity's style, while Marley catches the eye of a charismatic councilwoman. | ||||||
| 11 | 3 | "You Can Heaux Your Own Way, Bitch." | Tasha Smith | Ian Edwards | March 27, 2025 | |
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Feeling frisky, Mavis expands her dating pool; Khalil works up the courage to seek guidance; Marley's competitive streak surfaces during a date. | ||||||
| 12 | 4 | "Mind Ya Business, Bitch!" | Tasha Smith | April Korto Quioh | March 27, 2025 | |
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Having outgrown her workspace, Mavis makes a risky change. Khalil's irresponsible mother lands him in a tight spot - until a lucrative way out appears. | ||||||
| 13 | 5 | "A Change Gon' Come, Bitch?" | Thembi Banks | E. R. Fightmaster & Hilary Handelsman | March 27, 2025 | |
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An anxious supermodel inspires Mavis to prove that sexiness has no expiration date; Marley copes with a rare emotion, vulnerability. | ||||||
| 14 | 6 | "The Category is Love, Bitch." | Thembi Banks | Grace Edwards | March 27, 2025 | |
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Mavis juggles one man too many at Peppermint's wedding; Khalil's artistic block threatens to derail everything he's worked for. | ||||||
| 15 | 7 | "You Best Come Correct, Bitch." | Amy Aniobi | Solomon Georgio & Curtis Cook | March 27, 2025 | |
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A shipment of ill-fitting dresses puts Mavis in conflict with an arrogant designer at the forefront of a movement for "oddie bodies" everywhere. | ||||||
| 16 | 8 | "It's Not A Mo'Ment, It's A Movement, Bitch!" | Amy Aniobi | Michelle Buteau | March 27, 2025 | |
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After stirring up controversy on a popular podcast, Mavis proposes an unlikely collaboration that could revolutionise plus size fashion. | ||||||
Season 3 (2026)
| No. overall | No. in season | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original release date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 17 | 1 | "Three's the Magic Number, Bitch." | Kim Nguyen | Michelle Buteau & Solomon Georgio | July 2, 2026 |
| 18 | 2 | "Happy New Year's, Bitch!" | Kim Nguyen | Cameron Johnson & Kindsey L. Young | July 2, 2026 |
| 19 | 3 | "Reclaiming My Time, Bitch." | Danielle Sanchez-Witzel | Ian Edwards | July 2, 2026 |
| 20 | 4 | "C'est la vie, Bitch!" | Kim Nguyen | Amy Aniobi & Sherean D. Jones | July 2, 2026 |
| 21 | 5 | "Good Grief, Bitch." | Michelle Buteau | Mnelik Belilgne | July 2, 2026 |
| 22 | 6 | "Make It Work, Bitch." | Kim Nguyen | Solomon Georgio | July 2, 2026 |
| 23 | 7 | "Ti Amo, Bitch!" | Amy Aniobi | Kemiyondo Coutinho | July 2, 2026 |
| 24 | 8 | "It's Survival of the Thickest, Bitch." | Amy Aniobi | Michelle Buteau | July 2, 2026 |
Production
Development
![Curly plus-sized African-American woman smiling](#/media/File:Screen_shot_of_Michelle_Buteau_in_"Gothamist_Interviews...".png)
On January 24, 2022, Netflix announced an eight-episode television adaptation of Michelle Buteau's autobiographical essays Survival of the Thickest, with Buteau and Danielle Sanchez-Witzel as co-creators and executive producers.[2][9][10] Witzel, who previously developed The Carmichael Show and co-produced New Girl, was revealed as the showrunner of the television series as part of her multi-year deal with Netflix.[1] Ravi Nandan and Alli Reich of A24 also joined as co-executive producers.[11] On August 31, 2022, Anne Hong from Mosaic was announced as co-executive producer.[12][13] Meanwhile, Linda Mendoza was announced to be one of the series directors, and directed the first two episodes of the series.[12] On May 14, 2025, Netflix renewed the series for a third and final season.[6]
Casting
Michelle Buteau was announced as the series lead on January 24, 2022 alongside the television series announcement.[10] On August 31, 2022, Tone Bell and Tasha Smith joined alongside Buteau as main cast members.[11][12] On October 7, 2022, it was unveiled that Garcelle Beauvais, Anissa Felix, Peppermint, Taylor Selé, and Marouane Zotti joined the cast in recurring roles.[13] Additionally, on October 18, 2022, Michelle Visage, Sarah Cooper, Anthony Michael Lopez, Liza Treyger, and Allan K Washington were revealed to have joined the cast.[14]
In July 2024, for the second season, it was announced Smith had been promoted to series regular, with Anderson .Paak, Jonathan Chad Higginbotham, Deon Cole, Alecsys Proctor-Turner, Jerrie Johnson, Celisse, Rolonda Watts, Michael Rishawn, Tika Sumpter, Monét X Change, RonReaco Lee, and Yves Mathieu East set to guest star.[15][16]
In December 2025, for the third season, it was announced Zotti had been promoted to series regular, with Wanda Sykes, D. L. Hughley, Ashley Graham, Ronny Chieng, Wyatt Cenac, Jenna Lyons, Ice-T, LaQuan Smith, Charles Harbison, and Ashley Romans set to guest star.[17]
Filming
Principal photography of the series reportedly started on September 26, 2022, with New York revealed as one of the shooting locations.[18][19] The filming reportedly concluded on November 20, 2022.[18]
Principal photography for the second season commenced in July 2024.[20]
The third and final season finish shooting on early February 2026.[21]
Release
Reception
On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, the first season received a score of 86%, based on 21 reviews with an average rating of 6.7/10.[24] On Metacritic, the series has a weighted average score of 66 out of 100, based on seven critics, indicating "generally favorable reviews".[25]
