Jenn McAllister explained

Jenn McAllister
Birth Name:Jennifer Ann McAllister
Other Names:jennxpenn
Birth Date:9 July 1996
Birth Place:Bucks County, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Module:
Embed:yes
Years Active:2009–present
Subscribers:3.5 million (main channel)
547 thousand (second channel)
Views:383.4 million (main channel)
47.6 million (second channel)
Stats Update:March 30, 2023
Channels:jennxpenn
jenn
Silver Year:2011
Gold Year:2015
Silver Button:yes
Gold Button:yes

Jennifer Ann McAllister (born July 9, 1996), also known by her former pseudonym and YouTube username jennxpenn, is an American internet personality, actress and comedian. She is known for her work on YouTube,[1] for which she has been nominated for a Shorty Award and four Teen Choice Awards.

McAllister made her acting debut with the GRB Studio film Bad Night (2015), which she also produced. She starred in the YouTube Red web series Foursome (2016–2018), which won her the Streamy Award for Best Actress, and the Hulu series All Night (2018).

Early life

McAllister was born on July 9, 1996, in Bucks County, Pennsylvania,[2] where she attended Council Rock High School South in Holland, Pennsylvania, about 25 miles north of Philadelphia.

Career

McAllister created her YouTube channel jennxpenn at the age of 12 on January 15, 2009, but already had prior YouTube experience through a channel created beforehand with a friend.[3] The channel has since amassed over 3.5 million subscribers,[4] and her internet work has earned her nominations for the Shorty Award for YouTuber of the Year, and four Teen Choice Awards.

In March 2013, McAllister signed a YouTube partnership deal with AwesomenessTV;[5] she appeared primarily in skits and segments on their YouTube channel. She also starred in the pilot episode of AwesomenessTV's sketch comedy series of the same name,[6] [7] which premiered on Nickelodeon on July 1, 2013.[8]

Beginning in April 2014, she went on 16-city North American tour in celebration of reaching 1 million subscribers on YouTube with fellow YouTuber Tyler Ward, which took place at the beginning of May and the entirety of June.[9] In June 2014, McAllister signed a YouTube management deal with Fullscreen.[10] [11]

At the 2015 Playlist Live convention, it was announced that McAllister and fellow YouTuber Lauren Elizabeth Luthringshausen would be starring in a film titled Bad Night, which serves as McAllister's acting debut.[12] The film was produced by GRB Entertainment,[13] McAllister, and Luthringshausen, among others.[14] It was released through Vimeo on Demand in July of that same year.[15] [16] In an interview with Entertainment Weekly, she described the project as an "amazing experience" and that seeing herself on screen left her "cracking up at the fact that this is a real thing because I can’t take myself seriously. So we’re going to be hot messes, but I think we’ll make it through." Also in 2015, McAllister made her writing debut with the autobiography Really Professional Internet Person,[17] [18] which was released in August 2015 and became a New York Times Best Seller.[19]

In February 2016,[20] it was announced that McAllister would portray the leading role of Andie Fixler in the YouTube Red original series Foursome.[21] [22] [23] [24] In an interview with TheWrap, she described her relationships with the series' cast, stating that "I grew really close to everyone. It was kind of like a summer camp … I was on set for 12 and a half hours every day, so you’re really close with these people."[25] [26] She created content for her channel five to six weeks before production on Foursome began in order to exclusively focus on the series. The series was released in March of that same year, and ran for four seasons until 2018.[27] [28] For her performance, she won the Streamy Award for Best Actress at the 6th Annual Streamy Awards,[29] [30] [31] which was presented to her by frequent collaborator Andrea Russett. She was also a part of an ensemble nomination for the cast of Foursome.

In 2018, McAllister was cast in the role of Deanna Hoffman in the Hulu series All Night, which was the second collaboration between AwesomenessTV and Hulu.[32] [33] The series premiered in May 2018, and ended after it was not renewed for a second season.[34] In the year following, she competed in the first season of The Reality House,[35] [36] [37] a web series inspired by Big Brother where several YouTubers compete for $25,000.

At the end of 2021, McAllister stopped posting on her YouTube channel jennxpenn, instead focusing her attention on live-streaming on Twitch. She quickly rose to the top 0.04% of streamers on the platform, streaming primarily in the Just Chatting category.[38] She posts edited versions of her live streams on a second YouTube channel that has since amassed over 500 thousand subscribers.[39]

Personal life

In July 2013, at the age of 16, McAllister moved from her home in Holland, Pennsylvania to Los Angeles, California. In September 2014, McAllister partnered with the nonprofit organization Our Time, releasing a video telling her viewers aged eighteen or above to register themselves to vote in the United States.[40] [41]

In November 2020, in a video titled "addressing your assumptions about me...", McAllister publicly came out as bisexual, saying she had been identifying as bi in her personal life since she was 19 years old.[42] [43]

Filmography

Film

YearTitleRoleNotes
2015Bad NightAbbyAlso producer[44]
2016HedgehogsRoseVoice role[45]
2017Guardians of OzGabbyVoice role[46]

Television

YearTitleRoleNotes
2013AwesomenessTVHerselfEpisode: "Zay Zay and Jo Jo's Halloween Tips"
2016–2018FoursomeAndie FixlerMain role
2016Sleep TightEmilyEpisode: "Special Red"[47]
2018All NightDeanna HoffmanMain role[48]
2019The Reality HouseHerself (contestant)Reality web series

Awards and nominations

YearAssociationCategoryWorkResultRef.
2014Teen Choice AwardsChoice Web Star: ComedyHerself[49]
Choice Web CollaborationFab Five in Real Life
2015Teen Choice AwardsChoice Web Star: FemaleHerself[50]
2016Teen Choice AwardsChoice Web Star: FemaleHerself[51]
2016Streamy AwardsBest ActressFoursome
Best Ensemble CastFoursome
2017Shorty AwardsYouTuber of the YearHerself[52]

Books

Notes and References

  1. Web site: 19-Year-Old YouTube Star Says She 'Doesn't Need A Real Job'. September 13, 2014. Business Insider. Moss. Caroline. December 23, 2016.
  2. Web site: Famous Birthdays Today, July 9: Tom Hanks, Mitchel Musso, O.J. Simpson, Courtney Love, Jenn McAllister, Georgie Henley, Douglas Booth. July 8, 2014. Yareah Magazine. December 23, 2016. Cid. Martin. March 7, 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160307220633/http://www.yareah.com/2014/07/08/famous-birthdays-today-july-9-tom-hanks-mitchel-musso-o-j-simpson-courtney-love-jenn-mcallister-georgie-henley-douglas-booth/. dead.
  3. Web site: Jaworski. Michelle. Votta. Rae. August 31, 2014. Meet the YouTube class of 2014. December 23, 2016. The Kernel. The Daily Dot. September 7, 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150907051553/http://kernelmag.dailydot.com/issue-sections/features-issue-sections/10134/youtube-yearbook-class-of-2014/. dead.
  4. Web site: Selvin. Rachel. YouTuber Jenn McAllister Finger-Painted With Us & Here's What Happened. 2022-02-22. www.refinery29.com. en.
  5. Web site: McAllister. Jenn. March 18, 2014. Moving-Out Teen: A Survivor's Guide. December 23, 2016. The Huffington Post.
  6. Web site: 17-Year-Old YouTuber JennxPenn Premieres First Episode Of New AwesomenessTV Show 'JennxPenn's Top 10's' [VIDEO] New Media Rockstars]. 2022-02-22. newmediarockstars.com. en-US.
  7. Web site: 2013-06-24. AwesomenessTV Jumps To TV With Half-Hour Nickelodeon Series. 2022-02-22. Tubefilter. en-US.
  8. Web site: 2013-08-27. Nickelodeon Orders 7 More Episodes of 'AwesomenessTV' (Exclusive). 2022-02-22. en-US.
  9. Web site: Salud. April. May 24, 2014. jennxpenn on 1 Million Subscribers and Going On Tour. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20150323182402/http://strawburry17.com/exclusive-jennxpenn-on-1-million-subscribers-and-going-on-tour. March 23, 2015. December 23, 2016. Strawburry17.
  10. Web site: Gutelle. Sam. June 27, 2014. JennXPenn's Fullscreen Deal Is Not An Ordinary YouTube Partnership. December 23, 2016. Tubefilter.
  11. Web site: Spangler. Todd. 2014-07-18. JennXPenn, Connor Franta and Other YouTube and Vine Stars Featured in Fullscreen's First In-Real-Life Festival. 2022-02-23. Variety. en-US.
  12. Web site: Bloom. David. 2015-02-08. YouTube Stars JennXPenn, LoveLaurenElizabeth Cross Over To GRB's First Film. 2022-02-22. Deadline. en-US.
  13. Web site: Lauren Elizabeth, Jenn McAllister To Headline Feature Film 'Bad Night'. February 9, 2015. Tubefilter. Gutelle. Sam. December 23, 2016.
  14. Web site: Q&A: Jenn McAllister, Lauren Elizabeth Luthringshausen talk YouTube, Molly Ringwald, and explosions . 2024-02-18 . EW.com . en.
  15. News: Manly. Lorne. 2015-06-26. Can 20 Million YouTube Fans Make 'Smosh: The Movie' a Hit?. en-US. The New York Times. 2022-02-22. 0362-4331.
  16. Web site: Alexandra. Hurtado. July 9, 2015. First Look: Bad Night Movie Trailer Starring YouTube Sensations. 2022-02-22. PEOPLE.com. en.
  17. News: JennXPenn is latest YouTube star to land a book deal. March 30, 2015. December 23, 2016. AFP Relax News.
  18. Web site: Zumberge. Marianne. 2015-03-27. YouTube Star JennXPenn Strikes Book Deal. 2022-02-23. Variety. en-US.
  19. Web site: Ballin. Sofiya. YouTube star JennXPenn is building an empire. 2022-02-22. The Philadelphia Inquirer. August 25, 2015 . en.
  20. Web site: Spangler. Todd. 2016-02-10. YouTube Slates Original Gigi Gorgeous Documentary, JennxPenn Series. 2022-02-22. Variety. en-US.
  21. Web site: 2016-03-30. YouTube's Jenn McAllister Is Making Her Jump From Home Videos to a Whole New Series. 2022-02-22. Teen Vogue. en-US.
  22. Web site: Hamedy. Saba. 2016-03-31. AwesomenessTV's 'Foursome': If 'Sex and the City' were set in high school. 2022-02-22. Mashable. en.
  23. Web site: Jarvey . Natalie . 2016-02-10 . YouTube Red Picks Up Gigi Gorgeous Documentary, High School Comedy ‘Foursome’ . 2024-02-18 . The Hollywood Reporter.
  24. Greenberg. Julia. YouTube's New Original Programming Doesn't Make It Netflix. en-US. Wired. 2022-02-22. 1059-1028.
  25. Web site: Solsman. Joan E.. 2016-03-30. JennxPenn Explains Why Her YouTube Red Series Made Her Sick. 2022-02-22. en-US.
  26. Web site: Jenn McAllister dishes about her hysterical 'Foursome' castmates. March 29, 2016. aol.com. December 23, 2016.
  27. Web site: 2016-03-07. The Trailer For 'Foursome,' YouTube Red's Latest Original Series, Has Arrived. 2022-02-22. Tubefilter. en-US.
  28. Web site: The Trailer For 'Foursome' Season 4 Will Transport You Back To High School – Exclusive. 2022-02-22. Elite Daily. October 10, 2018 . en.
  29. Web site: 6th Annual Nominees. 2022-02-22. The Streamy Awards. en.
  30. Web site: Spangler . Todd . 2016-10-05 . Streamy Awards 2016: Full Winners List . 2024-02-18 . Variety.
  31. Web site: 2016-10-05. Liza Koshy, Lilly Singh, and More Won Big at the Streamy Awards. 2022-02-22. Teen Vogue. en-US.
  32. Web site: Hulu Picks Up, Casts 'All Night' Graduation Comedy Series From AwesomenessTV. August 24, 2017.
  33. Web site: Otterson. Joe. 2017-08-24. Hulu, AwesomenessTV Partner for High School Comedy Series 'All Night'. 2022-02-22. Variety. en-US.
  34. Web site: 2018-04-11. 'All Night' on Hulu Is The New 'Can't Hardly Wait' of 2018 [Exclusive]]. 2022-02-22. Decider. en-US.
  35. Web site: YouTubers are competing for $25,000 in a 'Big Brother'-like reality series - these are the 13 contestants. 2022-02-22. Business Insider.
  36. Web site: 2019-11-07. With 25 Million Views On Season 1, Kian And JC Are Readying Another 'Reality House'. 2022-02-22. Tubefilter. en-US.
  37. Web site: 2019-07-15. Meet the Cast of Kian and JC's 'Big Brother'-Inspired YouTube Show. 2022-02-22. Distractify. en-US.
  38. https://twitchtracker.com/jennmcallister
  39. https://www.youtube.com/jenn
  40. Web site: DeSimone. Evan. September 24, 2014. jennxpenn Targets Teens For National Voter Registration Day. December 23, 2016. New Media Rockstar.
  41. Web site: Moss. Caroline. YouTube Stars Are Replacing Hollywood A-Listers In Campaigns Encouraging Young People To Vote — And It Just Might Work. 2022-02-22. Business Insider. en-US.
  42. 1323377079593824256. jennmcallister. and i'm bi not gay, don't mislabel please. cya. Jenn McAllister. November 2, 2020. McAllister. Jenn.
  43. Web site: Little. Kendall. YouTuber Comes Out As Bi, School For Trans Opens In Asia. 2022-02-22. southfloridagaynews.com. en-gb.
  44. Web site: McNary. Dave. 2015-06-17. YouTube Stars Jenn McAllister, Lauren Luthringshausen's 'Bad Night' Gets Release. 2022-02-22. Variety. en-US.
  45. Web site: 2017-12-18. Anthony Padilla, Jenn McAllister Lend Voices To Lionsgate's 'Hedgehogs' Film. 2022-02-22. Tubefilter. en-US.
  46. Web site: Jenn McAllister on Twitter: "GUYS go check out my new movie, Guardians of Oz on iTunes!!!". 2022-02-22. Twitter. en.
  47. Web site: Ryan T . Cusick. 2016-11-08. Web Series 'Sleep Tight' Holds The Ingredients For Nightmares!. 2022-02-22. iHorror. en-US.
  48. Web site: Lloyd. Robert. 2018-05-10. Review: Grad night goes 'All Night' in a new Hulu comedy with YouTube stars and a classic teen story line. 2022-02-22. Los Angeles Times. en-US.
  49. Web site: Nordyke. Kimberly. 2014-08-10. Teen Choice Awards: The Complete Winners List. 2022-02-22. The Hollywood Reporter. en-US.
  50. Web site: August 16, 2015. Amanda Michelle . Steiner . Teen Choice Awards 2015: See the full list of winners. 2022-02-22. EW.com. en.
  51. Web site: Allison. Crist. Kimberly. Nordyke. 2016-07-31. Teen Choice Awards: Winners List. 2022-02-22. The Hollywood Reporter. en-US.
  52. Web site: YouTuber of the Year in Social Media - Shorty Awards. 2022-02-22. shortyawards.com.