PENELOPE ALLSTER, 15, Sophomore.

Penelope is a scholar. The valedictorian of the Sophomore class, learning is her favorite activity, which can make her come off as anal-retentive. She is exceptionally personable and charming, despite the fact that she has zero patience for stupid people, and she can become standoffish or sarcastic when someone says something dumb, but in her mind, it's always meant to be helpful. She loves her friends and would do anything for them, but unlike Spencer, she wouldn't do something like that for a stranger. At her best, she is charming, scholarly, and driven. At her worst, she is competitive, anal-retentive, and set-in-her-ways.

Penelope's arc in Season 1 is about overcoming religious trauma. She is a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (more simply put, she's a Mormon), and she realizes she has a crush on Ava. Not wanting to have a crush on a girl, she tries to keep it down the entire season, until gradually, she leaves the church and gives into her feelings. Her and Ava get together at the end of Season 1.