Jenny Humphrey
Jennifer Humphrey | |
|---|---|
| Occupation | Fictional character |
| Known for | Gossip Girl novels and TV series |
Jennifer Tallulah Humphrey is a fictional figure featured in the Gossip Girl and The It Girl novels authored by Cecily von Ziegesar, and is portrayed by Taylor Momsen in the Gossip Girl TV adaptation broadcast on The CW.
Gossip Girl
Jennifer Humphrey is the daughter of Rufus Humphrey, an editor specializing in Beat poetry, and Jeanette Humphrey, who left to be with a European nobleman. She has an older sibling, Dan Humphrey, who aspires to be a writer. Jenny attends Constance Billard School for Girls, an elite institution on Manhattan’s Upper East Side, where she studies alongside Serena van der Woodsen and Blair Waldorf. With a passion for art, she briefly dates Nate Archibald and creates several portraits of him. After being expelled from Constance, she persuades her father to allow her enrollment at Waverly Academy, a boarding school located in upstate New York.
In the novels, Jenny is portrayed as quite petite (approximately 5'0"), with curly brown hair and enlarged Double-D breasts; however, the television adaptation presents her as tall and slim with long, straight blonde hair. The prequel It Had to Be You explains her DD-cup size as a result of breast augmentation supplements.
The It Girl
Jenny serves as the central character in the The It Girl series, which explores her experiences following her expulsion from Constance Billard and subsequent enrollment at Waverly Academy. Determined to reinvent herself as a "sophisticated and popular city girl," she seeks to leave her former life behind. At Waverly, Jenny confronts more attractive and formidable peers, including her new roommates: the Southern belle Callie Vernon and the urbane New Jersey native Brett Messerschmidt. She takes over the position once held by their previous best friend, the infamous Tinsley Carmichael, intending to capitalize on that reputation.
Season 1
Jenny Humphrey appears as a freshman at Constance Billard aiming to join Blair’s inner circle but encounters resistance due to established high school social structures. A rivalry emerges when Blair learns of Nate’s feelings for Serena alongside Jenny’s interest in Nate. Blair’s secret relationship with Chuck Bass is revealed, resulting in Blair’s social decline and Jenny’s ascent to Queen Bee status. Despite this newfound position, Jenny struggles with insecurity stemming from her modest upbringing and resorts to selling a sewing machine and stealing a dress to fit in. Blair exposes the theft during a birthday event, sparking further conflict. In retaliation, Jenny wins over Blair’s friends with Nate’s assistance, igniting a battle for Queen Bee dominance.
Jenny briefly dates Asher Hornsby, who persuades her to falsely claim she lost her virginity to him as a cover for his homosexuality. After Blair and Eric publicly out Asher, Jenny confesses the falsehood and loses Blair’s favor once again. Eventually, Jenny lands an internship at Eleanor Waldorf Designs, the company owned by Blair’s mother.
Season 2
During summer, Jenny interns at Eleanor Waldorf Designs where she proves her capabilities despite initial difficulties and being dismissed for criticizing a dress. A blackout incident leads Eleanor to recognize Jenny’s talent and rehire her. Facing harassment from Blair’s followers, Jenny chooses to skip school to concentrate on fashion.
At Eleanor’s fashion show, Jenny disrupts Blair’s schemes by rearranging seating plans and improvising when Blair sabotages her designs. Despite Blair swapping dresses to undermine the event, the show succeeds and Eleanor commends Jenny's efforts.
Rufus agrees to homeschool Jenny due to her dedication. She befriends model Agnes Andrews (Willa Holland), who motivates her to launch her own fashion line. Recognizing that Eleanor restricts her progress, Jenny resigns and moves in with Agnes. Following a brief relationship with Nate and tension with Vanessa Abrams (Vanessa), disputes over business lead Agnes to feel betrayed when Jenny steals her contacts; Agnes responds by destroying their work and evicting Jenny.
Too young to start an independent business legally, Jenny attempts emancipation but Rufus denies her request. After hiding in Lily and Rufus's apartment, she reconciles with Rufus following Eleanor's intervention. At the Snowflake Ball, Nate ends their relationship after conflicts involving Vanessa.
Back at Constance Billard, Jenny contends with Blair’s followers. In the season finale, as Serena pursues Gossip Girl's identity, Jenny competes for Queen Bee after Blair exits. With encouragement from Blair herself, Jenny ultimately earns the crown as queen of Constance.
Season 3
Following her unsuccessful attempt to promote equality at Constance, Jenny fully adopts the Queen Bee persona, embracing social ambition and distancing herself from her Brooklyn background. Eric and Jonathan try to intervene but are publicly embarrassed by Jenny’s group. Partnering with Blair, Eric plots to undermine Jenny at the Cotillion Ball; however, Jenny instead enlists Nate as her escort, earning admiration throughout the Upper East Side’s elite preparatory schools. Eric’s manipulations create a divide between him and Jonathan and also damage his rapport with Jenny.
Chuck introduces Jenny to Damien Dalgaard, the Belgian ambassador’s son who is involved in drug dealing. Jenny starts a relationship with Damien, assisting in drug distribution and sharing the proceeds, even going as far as stealing some of Lily’s medication. Despite Rufus’s disapproval, Jenny continues seeing Damien but ends the relationship before it becomes physical, prompting Damien to end things.
At Rufus’s suggestion, Eleanor gives Jenny another chance by hiring her for a fashion show. In retaliation, model Agnes drugs Jenny and leaves her stranded at a bar. Nate comes to her rescue, reigniting Jenny’s affection for him. She attempts to pursue Nate despite his involvement with Serena, resorting to deceit to break them up; these attempts fail and result in heightened tensions, culminating in Nate expelling Jenny from his presence.
During a gala where Serena’s father William Van Der Woodsen delivers a speech, a former client confronts Jenny about drugs she sold that caused harm. Rufus grounds her after overhearing this exchange. While investigating Lily’s medication, Jenny uncovers that William is administering harmful drugs to Lily in an effort to win her away from Rufus. Trying to safeguard her family’s history, Jenny warns William of impending police scrutiny, thereby sabotaging Blair, Chuck, and Nate’s plan to expose him. She expresses nostalgia for the happier family life she once had in Brooklyn, prompting Rufus to insist on the need for her transformation.
Jenny reaches a low point after sending Gossip Girl a photo of Dan and Serena together, damaging several relationships within their circle. Blair confronts her harshly, emphasizing Jenny’s isolation. Vulnerable and alone, Jenny loses her virginity to Chuck amidst his breakup with Blair. Subsequently, Blair reconciles with Chuck while Jenny confides in Eric about feeling unloved. Dan discovers the encounter and confronts Chuck just before proposing to Blair. A week later, Jenny departs to complete high school in Hudson with her mother.
Season 4
Since May, Jenny has been residing in Hudson with her mother. Blair discovers Jenny preparing for an interview with Tim Gunn and grants her a special day pass. When Chuck steals Jenny’s portfolio, she is forced to visit The Empire Hotel—something Blair had forbidden—leading to mutual scheming between Blair and Jenny. During this rivalry, Jenny tells Gossip Girl that she lost her virginity to Chuck rather than Damien Dalgaard. Feeling triumphant, Jenny leaves while Blair blames Chuck. Ultimately recognizing the harm caused by her return, Jenny decides to depart permanently, warning Blair and Chuck that their vindictive behavior will lead to their downfall.
Juliet and Vanessa contact Jenny via Skype seeking assistance in undermining Serena. Although hesitant at first, Jenny agrees out of resentment toward Serena for past grievances. After Juliet drugs Serena causing hospitalization, Jenny plans to admit involvement but discovers Vanessa has already framed her. Unable to clear her name, Jenny leaves and later confides in Blair that Juliet orchestrated everything, providing Juliet’s masquerade mask as evidence which earns Blair’s forgiveness. She offers help in bringing down Juliet but opts to return to Hudson rather than engage further in scheming.
Season 5
The season opener, titled "Yes, Then Zero," discloses that Rufus informs others of Jenny’s relocation to London, where she enrolled at Central Saint Martins.
Season 6
In the series finale, "New York, I Love You XOXO," it is unveiled that Jenny was aware her brother Dan Humphrey was the elusive Gossip Girl. During a five-year leap forward, she attends Dan’s wedding to Serena van der Woodsen and has established herself as a designer within Blair’s fashion enterprise. Together, they introduce a new clothing collection named "J for Waldorf," symbolizing their renewed alliance.
Reception
Early in the show's run, there were rumors about developing a spin-off centered on Jenny’s boarding school narrative from the books; nevertheless, producers chose not to move forward with this idea.
Jenny’s role became more prominent in season three. Enid Portugez of the Los Angeles Times applauded her fashion expertise and cleverness during a storyline involving drug dealing, comparing it to a Project Runway challenge. Michael Ausiello praised both Leighton Meester and Taylor Momsen for their acting following the intense season finale. L.J. Gibbs from TV Fanatic gave the episode a 3.5/5 rating but criticized the shooting of Chuck as a contrived plot element and found the Chuck-Jenny relationship implausible. Mark O. Estes of TV Overmind lauded Momsen’s portrayal and lamented that Jenny never received her own spin-off series.
Although opinions varied, Jenny was included in TV Guide's list of "Most Loathed TV Characters."
In an interview with Vanity Fair, costume designers Eric Daman and Meredith Markworth-Pollack emphasized Jenny’s fashion as both approachable and distinctive, inspiring viewers to explore vintage or thrift shopping that reflects personal style, drawing influence from designers like Marc Jacobs.