Chan also starred in season 2 of ‘The Traitors Canada’
Credit: Luther Cherry; Sabrina Lantos/HBO
NEED TO KNOW
- Model Lauren Chan is joining season 2 of Heated Rivalry
- The new season is expected to drop in spring 2027
- Chan previously had a cameo in The Devil Wears Prada 2 and also appeared in The Traitors Canada
The Heated Rivalry cast just got a little hotter.
Lauren Chan, one of the 2025 Sports Illustrated Swimsuit cover models, has joined the cast of the popular Crave series that airs on HBO. She is slated to play Gen, the photographer for the Ottawa Centaurs. Season 2 is expected to drop in spring 2027 and will continue following the story of hockey-rivals-turned-lovers Ilya Rozanov (Connor Storrie) and Shane Hollander (Hudson Williams).
The series is currently filming in Canada, where the show originated. Chan, 36, who is Canadian, joins returning cast members including François Arnaud as Scott Hunter and Robbie G.K. as his partner Kip. The show is based on the novels by Rachel Reid.
“It’s undeniable: Heated Rivalry created a cosmic shift in Canada, the global entertainment industry, and for our LGBTQ+ community,” Chan tells PEOPLE exclusively. “On a personal level, it affected me so deeply that I actually told [creator and director] Jacob [Tierney] I’d play a dog if he asked. I’m just a very small part of this incredible project, but I’ll never stop being grateful to Rachel Reid, Jacob Tierney, Brendan Brady, and the teams at Lewis Kay, Accent Aigu, and Crave. And just like audiences everywhere, I can’t wait to see season 2 come together.”
Credit: Sabrina Lantos/HBO Max
In addition to modeling, Chan is a regular red carpet correspondent for eTalk and made a cameo in this year’s Devil Wears Prada 2 sequel. She also appeared on The Traitors Canada, where she made it to the finale, and Canada’s Drag Race and Project Runway. Prior to all of this, she worked as a fashion journalist and has been a longtime advocate for body positivity and inclusivity in the fashion and entertainment industries.
After landing a coveted cover of Sports Illustrated Swimsuit in 2025, Chan told PEOPLE that it was an incredible feeling being the first out lesbian to have her own cover of the iconic magazine.
“I’m the first out lesbian on the cover — with her own cover — and how much that means to me makes that surprise feel so overwhelming,” Chan said. “That’s where I feel like the tears of joy and celebration and relief and community come from.”
She was also the first queer plus-size model for the brand when she was named a Rookie in 2023.
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Season 2 of Heated Rivalry is expected to draw from author Reid’s sixth Game Changers novel, The Long Game.
“Start reading The Long Game if you want to spoil it for yourself,” Storrie said on Instagram in December 2025 when confirming the second installment alongside his costar Williams.
Set nearly 10 years later, The Long Game finds Shane and Ilya still guarding their relationship as they weigh the risks of going public — and what that choice would mean for their futures on and off the ice.
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