Survival of the Thickest is back for its third and final season, with all-new episodes now streaming on Netflix. Michelle Buteau returns as New York stylist Mavis Beaumont, who enters the final chapter ready for a fresh start after another season of career risks, complicated relationships and very public decisions.
The new episodes pick up after Mavis reunited with her on-again, off-again love Luca, played by Marouane Zotti, during the Season 2 finale. Whether the pair are genuinely ready to try again or simply falling back into familiar habits remains one of the biggest questions heading into the final season.
Mavis Faces One Final Chapter
Inspired by Buteau’s book of essays, Survival of the Thickest follows Mavis as she works to establish herself within the fashion industry while building a new life after the end of a long-term relationship.
Season 2 left her career in an uncertain position after she publicly criticised a designer who claimed to support size inclusivity. Rather than stepping back, Mavis pushed forward with a collaboration that placed transgender models and people of different body types at the centre of a major runway show.
The third season will see her continuing to grow her brand while navigating what comes next with Luca, her friends and the chosen family that has supported her throughout the series. Returning cast members include Tone Bell as Khalil, Liza Treyger as Jade, Peppermint, Alecsys Proctor-Turner as Nala, RonReaco Lee and Garcelle Beauvais. Zotti has also been promoted to series regular for the final season.
Wanda Sykes and Ice-T Join the Guest Cast
Season 3 adds an impressive group of guest stars, including Wanda Sykes, D.L. Hughley, Ashley Graham, Ronny Chieng, Ice-T, Jenna Lyons and Kandi Burruss. Designers LaQuan Smith and Charles Harbison will also appear, alongside Ashley Romans, Wyatt Cenac and Anthony Michael Lopez.
Buteau called receiving a third season “such a beautiful every-day-is-a-birthday-gift with no gift receipt”, promising the chapter would be “lived in, lived out loud” while bringing Mavis’ story to a close.
The season will also mark directorial debuts for both Buteau and co-creator Danielle Sanchez-Witzel. Sanchez-Witzel directs Episode 3, while Buteau steps behind the camera for Episode 5. Kim Nguyen and Amy Aniobi also direct, with Aniobi serving as showrunner. The series is produced by A24, with Buteau, Sanchez-Witzel, Aniobi and Anne Hong among the executive producers.
For CultureCues, it is bittersweet to see Survival of the Thickest return knowing this will be Mavis’ final chapter. The series has always allowed her to be completely herself while building a life and career on her own terms. With such a brilliant guest cast joining the final season, we are looking forward to seeing Mavis take back the runway one last time. Our full review of the final season and the series as a whole is coming soon.
Survival of the Thickest Season 3 is streaming now on Netflix.
Nikki Murray is a UK-based writer, screenwriter and founder & editor of CultureCues, covering film, television, music and pop culture. Her work focuses on storytelling and the moments shaping modern entertainment.