Meet Poet Jenay Ross: Owner of the World’s Most Emo Souvenir

Social media and authenticity don’t necessarily go hand in hand (lol, understatement of the century?). But when we stumbled upon Los Angeles-based poet Jenay Ross’s Instagram profile (hey, how else do you find new friends during a pandemic?) we knew we’d hit the genuineness jackpot. Her musings on great books, finding love on Bumble, and, yep, even social media overload are relatable, honest and uplifting—how very un-Instragram! So, it’s no surprise that when we asked Jenay to share her Haystack Story, she turned to the most expressive, soul-baring musical genre of the aughts: Emo. Below, her tale of Hot Topic tees, chasing magic moments and the night she took home the Super Bowl trophy of emo-kid fandom: Pete Wentz’s guitar pick.

Occupation: Poet, Influencer Marketing Account Manager at FitFabFun
Handle: @jenayross
Location: Los Angeles

What’s the star of your Haystack Story? 
An orange guitar pick with a turtle on it. I think it's Pete Wentz's. I caught it when Fall Out Boy performed at the Snakes On A Plane soundtrack release party. 

Do you still have it?
Yes! It's framed in a shadow box with other mementos from the night. There are a couple of autographs from dudes in other bands and Pete Wentz's autograph, which I snagged after a girl got me into the after-party...for 4 minutes. Because I was underaged, I was only allowed inside the entryway with the security guard monitoring the interaction before my time was up lol.

The ultimate emo kid’s treasure: Pete Wentz’s guitar pick.

Can you describe it?
In appearance, there's nothing spectacular about it. It's a common guitar pick. But I look at it with a lot of fondness because of the memories. 

Why is it so perfect?
Fall Out Boy and all those other Fueled By Ramen alternative/emo bands (Paramore, The Academy Is..., Panic! At The Disco, etc.) were my whole world back then. The pick represents a night that was a chain reaction of events that worked out because I was in the right place at the right time. That show embedded the feeling of "FOMO" in me because from then on I felt the need to be everywhere, chasing more magic moments. As a shy kid, I felt like if I placed myself in the right places and spoke up more often, amazing things could happen.

How does it make you feel?
It makes me laugh and feel a lot of joy.

If this item could talk what would it say?
"It's ok to be a little wild. Let loose and take more risks."

 When did you get it?
In 2006. The show was at the Key Club (RIP) in Hollywood with a red carpet and a decent amount of press. I can remember that night sooo vividly, but at the same time, so much was going on so it's also a blur. It's still funny to me how my mom let me fly to LA to go to this random (to us) Hollywood night club when I was a naive 14-year-old. She chaperoned, of course. But I still felt badass at the time. 

Who did you have a crush on back then?
Definitely Pete Wentz and other emo/scene dudes from bands. LOL. It was such a phase. 

What did your Friday nights look like?
If I wasn't at a high school football or basketball game playing flute in the pep band, I was probably watching Say Yes To The Dress on TLC. I loved Friday BrideDay. 

If someone gave you $20 to spend, what would you have bought?
A band tee from Hot Topic.

Teenage Jenay, probably in a Hot Topic tee, circa 2006.

What show did you rush home to watch?
Ugly Betty and The OC.

What was your favorite snack?
Fried spam & rice. I loved eating a bowl of it after school. Or a strawberry pop tart. 

Has that period in your life shaped your writing or style at all? If so how?
That period of my life shaped my love for music and led me to earn a journalism degree from USC because I wanted to be a music journalist. After I graduated, I worked in music for a bit before pivoting my career path.

What is one way in which you’re the same as you were back then, and one way in which you’re different?
That emo kid still lives in me. She's just more grown-up and diversified her taste in music and clothes. And instead of writing all my feelings and every detail of my life on Facebook or Tumblr, I write it in a journal or put it into poetry. I'm still chasing those magic moments. But I've mellowed out a bit and have become more comfortable with who I am versus trying to be a part of a particular scene.