Sara Waisglass and Chase Hudson are a Dream Team in ‘How to Lose a Popularity Contest’

Opposites attract and teen drama worlds collide in Tubi’s How to Lose a Popularity Contest. The upcoming YA rom-com stars Sara Waisglass (Ginny & Georgia) and Chase Hudson (Downfalls High) as overachiever Ellie (fittingly nicknamed Max) and charming slacker Nate, who join forces to win the student body presidency — we can feel the sparks flying already!

The film is the latest entry in Tubi’s new slate of YA originals, which also includes upcoming titles Hive starring Xochitl Gomez and Kissing Is the Easy Part with Asher Angel. The streamer is especially targeting Gen Z, leaning hard into fandom culture, web novels, and familiar faces from teen dramas and TikTok. The strategy makes a lot of sense given the success of Sidelined: The QB and Me, and it will be interesting to see if this approach invites opportunities for more diverse storytelling and creative risks.

Penned by Kaitlin Reilly and Dorian Keyes, How to Lose a Popularity Contest was featured as one of 2024’s The Love List “Best Unproduced Romance Scripts.” Devorah Moos Hankin and Lori Massini serve as executive producers, with Lindsay Macadam and Jason Fischer producing for Great Pacific Media.

Check out the first look images and a sneak peek below:

How to Lose a Popularity Contest premieres January 16 on Tubi.