If you’ve spent any time watching Netflix lately, you probably know Michelle Buteau. She’s the force of nature behind Survival of the Thickest and basically every hilarious comedy special of the last five years. But honestly, the real scene-stealer in Buteau’s world isn’t a co-star—it’s her daughter, Hazel van der Most.
Hazel isn’t some teen influencer or a child star with a 10-step skincare routine. She’s just a kid. But because she’s the daughter of a world-class comedian and a Dutch photographer, Gijs van der Most, her "origin story" and her personality have turned her into a bit of a focal point for fans who appreciate real-deal parenting stories.
The Brutal Road to Hazel van der Most
Let’s be real for a second. We see celebrities posting "perfect" family photos, but Hazel’s arrival was anything but easy. Michelle Buteau has been incredibly open about the fact that Hazel and her twin brother, Otis, were born via surrogacy in January 2019.
Before Hazel van der Most was even a thought, her parents went through the ringer. We’re talking five years of IVF. Four miscarriages. A benign tumor. It was heavy stuff. Michelle has talked about how she felt like a "bridezilla for the uterus," trying everything to get pregnant until her husband finally stepped in and said, "Enough. You’re tired."
That’s when they turned to surrogacy. Hazel and Otis were born in Pennsylvania because of New York's surrogacy laws at the time. When Hazel finally arrived, it wasn't just a birth; it was the end of a marathon.
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"The Energy of a 53-Year-Old Woman at the DMV"
One reason people are so obsessed with Hazel van der Most is how her mom describes her. Michelle famously told Romper that Hazel has the energy of a "53-year-old Black woman who works at the DMV."
Think about that for a second.
That is a very specific vibe. It’s no-nonsense. It’s "I’ve seen it all." It’s "move your car or get a ticket." While her twin brother Otis is apparently more like a "tired husband holding his wife's purse at Macy's," Hazel seems to be the one running the show.
Growing Up Between Two Worlds
Hazel’s life is a bit of a cultural mashup. Her mom is American with Haitian, Lebanese, French, and Jamaican roots. Her dad, Gijs, is 100% Dutch. This means Hazel van der Most is growing up in a household where parenting styles clash in the funniest way possible.
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- The "Helicopter" Style: Michelle admits she’s the one scanning the floor for Legos and potential choking hazards.
- The "Dutch" Style: Gijs is apparently way more chill. He’s the one letting the kids climb the furniture and figure out how to get down on their own.
It’s that classic "European vs. American" parenting dynamic. Honestly, it probably explains why Hazel has such a grounded personality. When you have one parent worrying and the other saying "she'll be fine," you end up with a kid who is pretty self-assured.
Why People Actually Search for Her
You might wonder why a kid’s name pops up in search trends. Usually, it’s because people are looking for a bit of hope. The story of Hazel van der Most is essentially a "don't give up" narrative for anyone dealing with infertility.
When Michelle Buteau posts a photo of Hazel at a movie premiere (like the Despicable Me 4 red carpet in 2024), it’s not just a cute kid in a dress. It’s a reminder that the five years of needles and heartbreak actually resulted in something tangible.
Also, let’s be honest—people just want to see if she actually looks like a DMV employee. (Spoiler: She’s adorable, but the "attitude" is definitely there in the photos).
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Life in the Bronx
Despite the red carpets, Hazel’s life is surprisingly normal. The family lives in the Bronx. They have a Peloton. They dealt with the same stir-crazy energy everyone else did during the pandemic. Michelle has shared stories about feeling impatient or overwhelmed, which makes the whole "van der Most" clan feel way more relatable than your average Hollywood family.
Lessons from the Buteau-van der Most Household
If there is anything to take away from the public bits of Hazel’s life, it’s about the shift in how we talk about modern families.
- Surrogacy is valid. It’s not the "easy way out"; it’s a complex, emotional, and often expensive journey that results in beautiful humans.
- Personality is innate. You can raise twins in the exact same house with the exact same food, and one will be a "Macy's husband" while the other—Hazel—is a "DMV boss."
- Cultural blending works. Mixing Dutch "nuchterheid" (down-to-earthness) with American vibrancy creates a pretty cool environment for a kid to grow up in.
Moving Forward
If you’re following the journey of the van der Most family, the best thing to do is keep an eye on Michelle Buteau’s social media or her memoir Survival of the Thickest. She doesn't exploit her kids for clicks, but she shares the kind of honest, "messy" parenting moments that actually make you feel better about your own life.
Whether Hazel van der Most grows up to be a comedian like her mom, a photographer like her dad, or actually ends up running a government agency, she’s already proven that she’s got the personality to handle whatever comes next.
Next Steps for Readers: If you’re struggling with your own journey to parenthood, look into Michelle Buteau’s essays in Elle or The New York Times. They offer a much deeper, more personal look at the path that led to Hazel and Otis, providing both comfort and a much-needed laugh during a tough time.