Jessica Szohr is an American model and actress born on March 31, 1985 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. She came from a Hungarian and Mulatto descent. She started her modeling career at the age of 16 as Kohl’s Department Store model. She graduated at Menomonee Falls High School in Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin. Although Jessica Szohr stands only 5’6 which is already considered short on the modeling world’s height scale, her exotic good looks made her an in demand model especially for products that target diverse demographics. Jessica Szohr has also been a model for Crate and Barrel, Mountain Dew, Sears, Quaker Oats, Jockey, Jansport, and Seventeen Magazine. She had her first television role in 2003 on My Wife and Kids. Since then, she has already appeared on various television programs including Somebody Help Me, CSI: Miami, Gossip Girl, What About Brian, House at the End of the Drive, The Reading Room, That's So Raven, Joan of Arcadia, Drake & Josh, What I Like About You, Uncle Nino.
Vanessa Abrams is played by Jessica Szohr on CW’s Gossip Girl. Vanessa is a young, beautiful artist who dreams to be a filmmaker someday. She plans to attend NYU in college and major in filmmaking. She lived for a year in Vermont with her parents. When she turned 15, her folks allowed her to move back to New York to live with her sister, who is a musician. Vanessa attends Constance Billard School for Girls where she remains isolated from the rest of her young, elite schoolmates. She is in love with her best friend Dan Humphrey (Penn Badgley). The two used to be an item before Vanessa joined her parents in Vermont. But when she returns, she learns that Dan is already romantically involved with the beautiful Serena Caroline van der Woodsen (Blake Lively). Vanessa on the other hand, becomes involved with Nate Archibald (Chace Crawford), but their relationship eventually goes to an end because of Nate’s unresolved issues with his self.
"Gossip Girl" .... Vanessa Abrams (14 episodes, 2007-2008-2009)
Somebody Help Me (2007) (V) .... Nicole
"CSI: Miami" .... Samantha Barrish (3 episodes, 2007)
"What About Brian" .... Laura (6 episodes, 2007)
House at the End of the Drive (2006) .... Krista
The Reading Room (2005) (TV) (as Jessica Karen Szohr) .... Dayva
"That's So Raven" .... Jordache Hilltopper (1 episode, 2005)
"Joan of Arcadia" .... Nikki (1 episode, 2004)
"Drake & Josh" (1 episode, 2004)
- Two Idiots and a Baby (2004)
"What I Like About You" .... Liz (1 episode, 2004)
Uncle Nino (2003) .... The MC
"My Wife and Kids" .... Dee-Jay (1 episode, 2003)
- Not So Hostile Takeover (2003) TV
Johnny Dodgeball (2008) (post-production) .... Queen D
Music video: Appeared in Matt White's video "Best Days". (2007)
"Jeans and T-shirts is pretty much what I like. And flip-flops."
"(on having feelings for a male best friend) I think all girls go through that at one time in their lives."
"I think Vanessa holds her own and will not give into that world. She is who she is and doesn't want to change for people. I think for the character and the demographic, the younger girls who watch, I think it's great."