Michelle Buteau's career has only gotten better and better — from landing her first television spot on Comedy Central to appearing in several movies and TV shows — and it's safe to say she's in a sweet spot.
"We all have a sort of responsibility — which is why we recycle. Let's leave the place better than when we found it for the next generation, right? I think working with the right people who you know have the same goals and who are on the same track as you is really important. That's why I love working with most of the productions I'm working with. It's like, 'Let's all get on the same page, let's have a good time and enjoy ourselves,'" the comedian, 46, exclusively tells Morning Honey about inspiring the next set of comics while talking about her partnership with Miss Vickie’s for its latest campaign, Stroke of Goodness.
"Being a female in any field, you're going to have that. We're not in competition with each other. We're only in competition with ourselves," she adds. "So, how do we make it better for everyone else? That's where I live."
The Always Be My Maybe star hasn't felt a connection with a specific mentor, especially since her immigrant parents moved from the U.S. from the Caribbean, Jamaica and Haiti. "They figured it out for themselves, and they told me do the same," she says. "My mom instilled a crazy work ethic in me where I'm like, 'I think I could take a vacation!' I'm OK with vacations now."
"I always say things like, 'Don't work for a thank you, just leave with a you're welcome.' They instilled all this stuff in me where I'm like, 'I got it,'" she quips. "I do feel really good about where I am — women are hilarious and smart and can get stuff done, and plus-sized women are desirable."
As for what the future holds, the mom-of-two is open to whatever comes her way. "I am so impressed by the New York comedy scene. I don't care how big or small someone might be; I just want to work with really hilarious people that have a good moral compass, period," she states.
Since Buteau enjoys being innovative, it made sense for her to partner with Miss Vickie's for their “Stroke of Goodness” Contest. Fans across the country are invited to submit a piece of original artwork via Instagram inspired by their favorite Miss Vickie’s flavor. If selected, their art will appear on a billboard in a high-traffic area to make even a traffic jam a little more pleasant. Entries will be judged based on their connection to Miss Vickie’s packaging, creativity and originality — and Buteau is the judge.
"I get to be creative. My career started out by doing projects like what Miss Vickie's is doing. I get to be creative and show this side of myself where there's no pressure and it's just fun," she shares. "That's why I am really inspired by this project because whether you're 25 or 65, it's something fun. You don't have to worry about getting it right!"
"I love Miss Vickie's. When I heard they were going to be making their way to retail shelves in stores, I was like, 'Sign me up!' I am here for this," she adds. "My kids and I can go grocery shopping, and they have opinions. Now, we can make it this family trip. When they told me about the contest, I was like, 'I love a creative contest.' I always say we're in competition with ourselves, so it's fun to take pen to paper and show your interpretation of what this flavor invokes for you."
Fans nationwide can enter by posting their original artwork inspired by Miss Vickie's on Instagram with the hashtags #MissVickiesArt and #Contest and tag and follow @MissVickiesUS.