Ursula is a tall, athletic junior who excels at basketball. She adopts a tough, foul-mouthed "Ugly Girl" persona to shield herself from the expectations of traditional femininity and her own body insecurities. She acts with fierce independence and holds strong principles, consistently standing up to the expectations of those around her.

Matt is a sixteen-year-old junior, vice president of his class, and a budding playwright. He relies on an extroverted "Big Mouth" persona to garner attention and mask his deep-seated insecurities. After a satirical comment in the cafeteria is taken out of context, he faces police questioning and sudden social isolation.

Trevor is a senior at Rocky River High School and a popular football player. He holds an intimidating presence in the school and actively bullies other students. His aggressive behavior covers up a troubled dynamic at home.

Muriel is a senior at Rocky River High School and the twin sister of Miriam. Influenced by her father's rigid views, she frequently harasses other students and directs particular hostility toward peers she deems odd or different.

Miriam is a senior at Rocky River High School who closely follows her twin sister Muriel. Together, they form an intimidating presence in the school hallways and single out specific students for harassment.

Reverend Brewer is a local religious leader and the father of Muriel and Miriam. He holds rigid, prejudiced views that significantly influence his daughters' hostile behavior at school.

Ursula's mother manages the family home in Westchester County while her husband travels for work. She places high value on social appearances and traditional female pursuits, frequently misunderstanding her eldest daughter's choices.

Ursula's father is a corporate CEO based in Manhattan. He is frequently absent from the family home due to his demanding business schedule, leaving him disconnected from his daughters' daily challenges.

Lisa is Ursula's younger sister. She is deeply involved in competitive ballet, an activity that increasingly affects her dietary habits and emotional state.

Matt's mother stays at home and struggles heavily with depression. She becomes overwhelmed and deeply anxious when the community turns against her son, relying on medication to cope with the resulting isolation.

Matt's father is a businessman who spends extended periods away from home. He reacts aggressively to the school's accusations against his son, pushing for litigious action to protect his family's reputation.

Alex is Matt's younger brother. He shares a close sibling bond with Matt and takes significant responsibility for walking and feeding the family dog, Pumpkin.

Pumpkin is the Donaghy family dog. The pet serves as a crucial source of comfort and non-judgmental trust for Matt during his extreme social isolation from his peers.

Ms. Schultz is the gym teacher and basketball coach at Rocky River High. She recognizes Ursula's athletic talent and appoints her as team captain, serving as a rare adult figure Ursula respects.

Mr. Parrish is the principal of Rocky River High School. He attempts to manage the disciplinary fallout from the cafeteria rumor but struggles to handle the escalating public crisis effectively.

Skeet is Matt's friend from school. He actively encourages Matt's theatrical and poorly-timed jokes in the cafeteria but distances himself when the serious consequences arise.

Stacey is a popular student at Rocky River High and the closest person Matt has to a girlfriend. She represents the social acceptance Matt desperately seeks but loses during the scandal.

Eveann is a student at Rocky River High who witnesses Matt's performance in the cafeteria. She faces parental pressure regarding her involvement in the investigation.

Mrs. McDowd is Eveann's mother. She initially advises her daughter to avoid getting involved in the school investigation to protect her from community gossip.

Bonnie is a member of the girls' basketball team. She maintains a casual friendship with her team captain and informs Ursula about the team's struggles in her absence.