StaffNetflix’s Survival of the Thickest returned in full force as its Season 2 premiere lit up the Metrograph Theater in Lower Manhattan last night. The red carpet buzzed with celebrities, stylists, and creators as the cast, led by comedian and actress Michelle Buteau, stepped out to celebrate the sophomore season of the series that has carved out a lane for body-positive storytelling and unapologetic self-expression.
Survival of the Thickest Season 2 Premiere
Created by Michelle Buteau and Danielle Sanchez-Witzel, the series follows Mavis Beaumont, a confident and newly single stylist navigating the New York fashion and dating world after a public breakup. Season 2 picks up with Mavis pushing deeper into the fashion industry, confronting systemic biases, love triangles, and her own ambitions head-on. The show balances heartfelt moments with sharp humor, capturing the messy glamour of reinvention.
Buteau, who also serves as executive producer, arrived at the premiere in a custom Sergio Hudson pantsuit in electric cobalt blue, pairing bold shoulder pads with a plunging neckline and a dramatic silk cape that turned heads. Her glam team, led by makeup artist Renny Vasquez and hairstylist Ursula Stephen, leaned into a “modern diva” aesthetic, with high-gloss lips and a sculptural updo.
Her co-stars also delivered sartorial heat. Tone Bell, who reprises his role as Khalil, wore a deep emerald velvet tuxedo by Amiri, while Tasha Smith, now a series regular as Mavis’s tough-love mentor Darlene, stunned in a figure-hugging black satin gown by LaQuan Smith. Liza Treyger, who plays Mavis’s best friend Jade, kept it downtown cool in a silver chainmail slip dress from Ludovic de Saint Sernin.
Notable attendees included Danielle Brooks, fresh off her Oscar-nominated turn in The Color Purple, rocking a plum corset dress by Hanifa, and Padma Lakshmi, who’s set to guest star this season, arriving in a sculpted white gown by Prabal Gurung. Also spotted: stylist Jason Rembert, designer Christopher John Rogers, and comedian Nicole Byer, who posed for selfies with fans outside the venue.
The crowd inside the Metrograph offered a warm reception, with audible laughter and applause throughout the two-episode screening. Season 2 leans more deeply into Mavis’s career struggles as she attempts to launch her own inclusive fashion label while juggling a complicated relationship with Khalil and navigating friendship dynamics with Jade and Luca, played by Marouane Zotti.
Fan reaction on social media was immediate and effusive. X (formerly Twitter) lit up with praise for Buteau’s performance and the show’s commitment to plus-size visibility and body-positive narratives. “No one’s doing it like Michelle Buteau — hilarious, smart, hot AF,” wrote one user. Another commented, “Season 2 of Survival of the Thickest is chef’s kiss — more queer love, more looks, more heart.”
The premiere afterparty, held at The Public Hotel rooftop, featured a curated soul and R&B playlist spun by DJ Miss Milan. Champagne flutes clinked as guests snacked on mini lobster rolls and truffle mac and cheese bites. Buteau gave a short toast, thanking the crew, her cast, and the audience: “This season is for every person who’s ever been told they were too much — too loud, too thick, too ambitious. Guess what? We are just enough.”
Survival of the Thickest S2 Release Date
The series, produced by A24 and Shotgun Productions, continues its strong partnership with Netflix, which has already hinted at the possibility of a third season, depending on audience reception in the coming weeks. According to Netflix’s Head of Comedy Tracey Pakosta, “Survival of the Thickest taps into a hunger for authenticity — it’s fresh, funny, and fashion-forward.”
Season 2 premieres globally on Netflix on March 29, 2025, with all eight episodes dropping simultaneously. With a powerful return, Survival of the Thickest Season 2 promises to cement its place in the modern rom-com canon. Michelle Buteau once again proves that humor, heart, and high style can coexist — and in this case, flourish. The New York premiere underscored the cultural weight the show carries, not just as entertainment but as a vibrant reflection of real, diverse experiences that rarely get the spotlight in mainstream media.
