In Survival of the Thickest, Natasha Karina is a ’90s supermodel who is one of Mavis’ first clients after she leaves the opportunity at Essence. Garcelle Beauvais plays Natasha.
When Mavis first meets Natasha, it is revealed that the model desires to keep up with contemporary times.
The kind of dress Natasha wants from Mavis should make her feel sexy, relevant, and fierce for this red carpet-event. Mavis learns that Natasha is no longer comfortable with her size, and she desperately wants to make Natasha feel good in the dress she plans to design.
However, Natasha is very adamant about not giving Mavis her size. She had even bought a corset to make herself look thinner. Mavis tries to help her wear the corset, but when it doesn’t fit, Mavis clarifies what she is here to do.
Mavis tells her about her dream of designing clothes for thick women and helping them love their bodies. She lets Natasha know that if she is dressing her, then there will be no corset.
Natasha leaves the room, and Mavis suspects that she has just been fired, but Natasha’s manager, Bruce, informs her that Natasha has just hired Mavis.
Natasha’s lie and her backstory
Mavis designs the perfect dress that makes Natasha feel confident and joins Natasha at this red-carpet event, and once they reach there, she learns that it is Natasha’s ex-husband’s funeral.
Initially, Mavis is hesitant about mocking someone’s funeral, but she realizes that it’s Natasha’s way of saying goodbye to her ex-husband.
Natasha’s ex-husband discovered Natasha when she was a waitress at a roller rink in Bay Ridge. Natasha was ready to do anything for him, but he offered her a job as a model.
Even though he left Natasha for another woman, Natasha says that she owes him her entire career. She ends her speech by dropping a parting gift in her husband’s casket.
Later in her car, Natasha admits that she let herself get consumed by resentment for years. She wasted all that time sitting in her house, furious over her ex-husband because he cheated, moved on, and found happiness, unlike her.
Problems between Natasha and Mavis
Peppermint had gone live on Instagram to shoot Natasha’s speech at the funeral. The video of Natasha goes viral. People not only notice the supermodel but also Mavis’ work, who was part of the video.
From that point on, Mavis becomes Natasha’s regular go-to. Mavis dresses up Natasha for her dog’s wedding. Things only become difficult when Mavis starts accepting more jobs.
Nicole Byer hires Mavis to have her work on her lingerie launch. The launch is on the same day as the Webby Awards. Natasha and Mavis are receiving an award for that speech at Natasha’s ex-husband’s funeral.
Natasha doesn’t like Mavis being focused on something other than her. She disrespects Byer in front of Mavis, and Mavis doesn’t like it. Natasha even offers Mavis a three-year contract. Mavis will work exclusively for Natasha and will be paid $10,000 a month.
For once, Mavis chooses herself. She doesn’t give in to Natasha’s selfish demeanor and quits. Natasha eventually returns to Mavis. She admits that she misses her.
Given how Natasha is often rude to people and full of herself, Mavis admired this change. Natasha even hugs Mavis to make up.
Also Read: Survival of the Thickest summary and ending explained