Survival of the Thickest Season 3 brings back one of my favorite television characters: Nala.
The ambitious fashion student has a way of pulling you in from her very first scene, and by the end of the episode, you’re already hoping she gets more screen time.
She checked my personal big three from the start: an intricate wardrobe, confidence and the kind of boundaries that make you respect a character even more.
She had my personal big three from the start: an intricate wardrobe, confidence and the kind of boundaries that make you respect a character even more.
Ahead of the July 2 premiere of Season 3 of Survival of the Thickest , I sat down with actress Alecsys Proctor-Turner who plays Nala expecting to talk about fashion.
We certainly did.
But somewhere between conversations about crop tops, romance novels, Pinterest inspiration and her love of pink, our conversation landed on something much bigger.
Joy.
Not the polished kind we often see on social media.
The everyday kind.
The kind that shows up when you’re finally wearing the outfit you’ve been eyeing for months. The kind that comes from collaborating with a costume department that encourages you to try the bold print instead of talking you out of it. The kind that reminds you your story doesn’t have to begin with insecurity before it earns happiness.
That joy feels woven throughout Survival of the Thickest, and Alecsys hopes viewers notice it just as much as the clothes.
Season 3 Feels More Personal Than Ever
One of the first things Alecsys shared was that Nala has changed.
Or maybe it’s more accurate to say Nala has become a little more Alecsys.
“I think the writers and producers knew Alecsys by this season,” she told The Curvy Fashionista. “At first they wrote Nala, and then they had auditions. Now it’s like Nala and Alecsys are one.”
That’s one of the gifts that comes with a series reaching its third season. The character keeps evolving, but so does the relationship between the actor and the creative team.
Proctor-Turner also credited Michelle Buteau with setting the tone on set. As the show’s lead, co-creator and executive producer, Buteau balanced multiple responsibilities while creating an environment where the cast felt supported.
Alecsys told me she was able to collaborate more this time around, even incorporating conversations about hair and touches of her favorite color, pink, into Nala’s wardrobe.
Fans should keep an eye out because she hinted that those details are sprinkled throughout the final season.
That personal touch extends beyond Nala’s wardrobe. During our conversation, Alecsys pointed to the butterfly necklace she was wearing and shared that butterflies remind her of her great-grandmother, Mama Lynn.
It’s a symbol that also found its way into Nala’s story, giving the character another piece of the woman portraying her. Those are the kinds of details viewers may not immediately notice, but they make the final season feel even more personal.
Fashion Can Change More Than Your Closet
One answer surprised me.
When I complimented Nala’s fearless wardrobe, Alecsys admitted that she wasn’t always drawn to color herself.
Before landing the role, her closet looked very different.
She told me she was hesitant about bright colors and bold patterns until the show’s costume team encouraged her to experiment.
“I was a little afraid of some of the bright colors and some of the pattern,” she said. “Nala woke something up in me.”
I loved hearing that because fashion has a funny way of introducing us to ourselves.
For Alecsys, stepping into Nala’s wardrobe made room for a version of herself she hadn’t fully explored yet.
She credits the costume department with creating an environment where trying something new never felt intimidating.
“They talked love and light into me.”
If you’ve ever needed a little encouragement to buy the colorful jacket, wear the statement print or finally take the tags off the dress hanging in your closet, consider this your sign.
Plus Size Women Deserve Stories Filled With Joy
Our conversation naturally shifted toward representation, and this is where Alecsys said something that stayed with me long after the interview ended.
When I asked what authentic plus size representation looks like to her, she didn’t start by talking about bodies.
She talked about dreams.
“A lot of times they like to put, especially on Black plus-size characters, the struggle of our bodies being in the space,” she said. “We need the hope.”
That perspective feels especially fitting for Survival of the Thickest.
Yes, the series explores heartbreak, career setbacks and the realities of navigating life as a plus size woman.
It also makes room for storylines that we don’t often see for plus-size women for romance, healthy friendships, career wins, fashion risks and laughter.
Those moments matter just as much.
“I have so many beautiful plus-size friends and family,” Alecsys continued. “We are all usually the most joyful in the space. They don’t show enough joy.”
Research from the Geena Davis Institute has found that authentic, multidimensional representation influences how audiences see themselves and others, reinforcing why stories that extend beyond stereotypes are so important.
That’s exactly what Survival of the Thickest continues to offer.
Dressing Without Permission
One thing I always appreciate about Survival of the Thickest is that the fashion never feels like an afterthought. Every look tells you something about the character before they even speak, and Nala’s wardrobe is no exception.
As someone playing a fashion student, Alecsys understands the reality many plus size shoppers still face. Loving fashion and having access to it aren’t always the same thing.
“I want to be in the bikinis,” she told me. “I love crop tops and baggy jeans. I want to go into a store, take it off the rack, try it on and walk out with a shopping bag.”
It’s a simple request, but one that many plus size consumers know isn’t always simple.
While the fashion industry has made strides toward size inclusion in recent years, shopping can still feel like a scavenger hunt. One store carries extended sizes online only. Another stops just before your size.
Then there are the brands that embrace size inclusion in marketing campaigns without offering the same experience in stores.
For someone like Nala, who views fashion as a creative outlet, those barriers don’t erase her love for style. They simply make the industry’s blind spots more obvious.
Alecsys is also leaving behind the fashion advice many plus size women grew up hearing.
“If I got the rolls, have them out,” she laughed. “I’m always gonna have my back out. Always gonna have a strapless on. I’m gonna wear what I want to wear.”
That confidence feels perfectly in step with where fashion is headed. Personal style has become less about following rules and more about finding what feels authentic. If that means a crop top, wear it. If it means head-to-toe pink, even better.
Beyond the Wardrobe
Somewhere in the middle of our conversation, we wandered away from fashion and landed on books.
Alecsys lit up.
She told me she reads around 100 books a year and immediately started recommending titles like an enthusiastic friend passing along her latest favorites.
From romance novels by Kennedy Ryan to fantasy adventures she dreams of bringing to life on screen, her reading list says as much about her imagination as her résumé does.
Then she shared something that made me smile.
If Hollywood came calling tomorrow, she’d happily join the world of dragons in Fourth Wing. She’d train, box, run with her inhaler if she had to, all for the chance to step into that universe.
That answer reminded me that Alecsys is still dreaming just as big as the characters she’d like to play someday.
Maybe that’s another reason Nala feels so believable. They’re both women with somewhere they’re trying to go.
Why Nala Stays With You
As our conversation wrapped up, I found myself thinking less about individual outfits and more about why Nala resonates in the first place.
I don’t think people connected with Nala simply because she dresses well. They connected with her because the clothes are only one part of who she is. Underneath the statement coats and colorful prints is a young woman figuring out her career, protecting her peace and refusing to shrink herself to make anyone else comfortable.
But underneath all of that is something television still doesn’t give us nearly enough of.
Possibility.
Nala isn’t waiting for permission to chase fashion. She isn’t waiting until she loses weight to wear the outfit. She isn’t waiting for someone else to decide she’s worthy of taking up space.
She’s already doing it.
Maybe that’s why so many viewers have embraced her.
When I asked Alecsys what she’s learning during this season of her own life, she shared a lesson passed down from her mother that felt like the perfect way to end our conversation.
“Every time we take space, we’re giving back to the people who love us,” she said. “It’s a gift. Take it up.”
As Survival of the Thickest prepares to take its final bow, I already know one thing I’ll miss.
Nala.
Not just because of the wardrobe, although I’ll absolutely miss that too.
I’ll miss watching a plus size Black woman whose story wasn’t confined to a single narrative. She got to dream. She got to experiment with fashion. She got to make mistakes, laugh, learn and keep moving forward.
And honestly?
That’s the kind of character I hope we keep making room for.
Survival of the Thickest Season 3 premieres Thursday, July 2, on Netflix.
