Michaelis was born in New Jersey and raised in Illinois before moving to the village of Kleinburg in Ontario at age 15.

Michaelis attended the University of Toronto Scarborough for two years, before leaving to pursue a short lived career in fashion and modelling.

Michaelis played small roles in CollegeHumor sketches while also performing with the Upright Citizens Brigade in Los Angeles.

[1][3] In 2023, they became the host of the show Very Important People, in which they interview comedians playing improvised characters while wearing elaborate costumes.

[1] Michaelis met their biologist husband when they were both students at the University of Toronto Scarborough while acting in a play he was directing.