<P> Serena Celia van der Woodsen is a main character in the Gossip Girl novel series and its TV adaptation, in which she is portrayed by Blake Lively . Serena is featured on the blog of the series' mysterious narrator, "Gossip Girl ." Serena is Blair Waldorf's best friend and is a character that appears to easily get whatever she wants, because of her good looks, energy and charisma . She is also known as the "It Girl" in the series . </P> <P> Serena is a tall, blonde, slim teenage girl from the Upper East Side of Manhattan in New York City . Many of the girls at the Constance Billard school accuse her of using her good looks as a means to secure everything she wants . She is not particularly academically skilled, but she is often told that she is not meeting her full potential . Her father runs the same Dutch shipping firm his great - great - grandfather founded in the 18th century, and her mother, Lillian van der Woodsen, is a socialite, art collector, and philanthropist . Her parents are on the boards of all major charities and art organizations in the city . The van der Woodsens reside at 994 Fifth Avenue, a ritzy, white - gloved doorman building directly across the street from The Met and Central Park . Serena and her family own half the top floor in a 14 - room penthouse . </P> <P> Serena has a nail - biting habit and also cuts her split ends off, mainly during her classes at Constance Billard . Though exposed and aware of the on - goings in the fashion world, she, unlike Blair, is not as meticulous about her fashion choices and wardrobe . She is described to have an effortless way about her . Serena is charismatic, charming, talented, funny, kind, care - free and laid - back . These attributes help her to thrive and often, whether wittingly or unwittingly, attract older men . </P> <P> Despite all of her attributes, Janet Malcolm of The New Yorker considers her "incandescently beautiful, exceptionally kind, and, in the end, it has to be said, somewhat boring ." </P>

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