Watch Michelle Buteau Become the Ultimate Hype Woman for Beyoncé, Cardi B & Many More

This interview was conducted on July 13, 2023, before the start of the SAG-AFTRA strike.

In Michelle Buteau‘s new Netflix show, Survival of the Thickest, she plays Mavis Beaumont, a 38-year-old, plus-sized woman trying to get her big break as a celebrity stylist, after she gets cheated on by her long-term partner. So, knowing how much she’s been around fashion while filming the show, we put her to the test to find out what star styles she loves in our new game, “Hype it Up or Style it Up.” And –spoiler alert– most of them were a total slam dunk for the actress.

To start off, we showed Buteau a photo of Keke Palmer in the look that was later criticized and mom-shamed by her boyfriend Darius Jackson. Insane, we know… “This is amazing,” Buteau says. “This outfit is just giving ‘I take care of everyone so I can do whatever I want.'” We couldn’t agree more!

With the second picture, one of Beyoncé when she announced she was pregnant with twins in 2017, Buteau immediately says, “Oh my goodness.” “I have a statue of this at Christmas,” she says. “Anyways, this is Beyoncé and she is amazing and that’s all,” she says, adding that she likes to call herself “government Beyoncé.” Fun fact, just like Beyoncé herself, Buteau is also a mom of twins, 4-year-olds Otis and Hazel.

When flipping to the next photo, one of Cardi B at Paris Fashion Week this year, Buteau also became the ultimate hype woman. “She looks really good, I mean when doesn’t she?” she asks. “She even looks fly when she’s doing community service. What can’t she do?”

In the next picture, we were stunned to know Buteau doesn’t know who Love Again starPriyanka Chopra Jonas is. “This is so cute,” Buteau says of a black and white look Chopra wore to a Bulgari event in Parisa last year. “I don’t know who it is.”

In the next picture, one that we all thought would draw some critique, Buteau reacted to the look Melissa McCarthy hilariously wore when presenting the award for Best Costume Design at the 2019 Oscars. The look, which featured a series of plush bunnies, was inspired by The Favourite, one of the nominated movies. “It is giving Noah’s Ark meets runway couture what the f— realness,” Buteau says, totally supporting the craziness.

Next, Buteau reacted to the stunning purple look her Survival of the Thickest co-star Nicole Byer wore to the 2021 Emmy Awards. “B—- YESSSS,” she says. “BBW, big, beautiful weirdo!”

In the last picture, Buteau reacted to an old picture of hers wearing a suit and tie, and sleek high bun and bold red lips. “This is when I was really obsessed with Janelle Monáe, don’t worry about it, it’s been a hot girl summer, I would love to be her lipstick lover,” Buteau says, admitting her celebrity crush. “And this is also my little dog Roxy who passed away but I will always have this picture.”

Check out all her hilarious reactions and much more in the full video above. And, to find Buteau’s new show, Survival of the Thickest, head to Netflix to binge it all.

Before you go, click here to see the best Netflix shows you should be watching right now.