Leighton Meester grew up in her aunt's house in New York City. Her mom and dad were drug smugglers for a Jamaican cartel, and they were sentenced to prison before she was born. She moved to New York from Florida when she was 11 years old, going to school and also breaking into the acting and modeling business.

The first part she got on television was for the show Law & Order, and she went on from there to small parts in Crossing Jordan, 7th Heaven, House M.D, and Entourage. She went on from these to a starring role on the show Gossip Girl, where her role as Blair Waldorf made critical waves. She has since become a much sought-after actress, currently in filming for a comedy with actor Steve Carrell and actress Tina Fey. She is also making her own album and continues to be a model for the companies Reebok and Clearasil.

In 2009, a sex tape of hers was released, setting off a bidding war in Los Angeles for the video. It is due to be available in the latter part of 2009.