Jessica Stroup pursued modeling after being encouraged by a friend's mother. She began modeling when she was 15. Three years later, she decided to pursue an acting career, turning down a scholarship at the University of Georgia.
After making her debut through a guest role on the Nickelodeon series Unfabulous, Stroup appears in several TV movies, as well as in films such as The Hills Have Eyes II and This Christmas. In 2007, she took a recurring role in Reaper; the following year, she took over the role of Erin Silver on the CW's reboot of 90210.
Stroup also had guest roles in shows such as Grey's Anatomy and True Blood (where she appeared in the series' very first scene). She was also seen on movies like Homecoming and The Informers, as well as one episode of HBO's True Blood.
- She started modeling at the age of 15 at the suggestion of her mother, but she soon found her way to acting.
- She is an avid volleyball player.
- She is a huge fan of horror movies, listing The Shining, Poltergeist and Pet Sematary as her favorites.