Life & Work with Laura Lee Johnson

Today we’d like to introduce you to Laura Lee Johnson.

Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I first started creating a series on TikTok in September of 2021. I have always loved pop culture and enjoyed watching celebrity documentaries, Youtube rundowns, and series and updates from other creators on Tik Tok. One area that I was interested in but had not been discussed yet was Playboy. So I began researching it for myself and creating a timeline of events within the organization, as well as Hugh Hefner’s personal life. I’ve always loved researching, and this quickly became a fun hobby for me to do in my downtime. The response to that series was positive, and I started to gain followers immediately. It was a crazy experience, but it only fueled me to create more series, knowing that I would get to read others’ opinions and comments on the celebrities I found interesting. Since then, I’ve started to mix in personal content as well, which has included anything from fashion & beauty to lifestyle, to TV show reviews, to opinions or thoughts that I want to share. I’ve loved learning more about social media, connecting with followers, and growing in this every step of the way!

I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey have been a fairly smooth road?
It started out smooth, but it’s inevitable to have bumps in the road. The first thing I had to cope with was constantly being bombarded with others’ opinions. I’ve definitely received hate, snide comments, or even comments that may have come from a good place but unintentionally offended me. It has been a process to learn when to let it go and when to listen or address a comment. A lot of my current peace with negativity online has come from simply being exposed to it enough to no longer care and realizing that even when people disagree or even criticize you, it doesn’t mean they hate you as a person or that you’re doing something wrong. However, I’ve also learned that some things need to be responded to, whether that’s to address an issue or simply set boundaries. Since I use my own account to discuss others and offer criticism on topics, I do not delete comments, except in situations of prejudice or harmful speech, because I still want everyone to have their voice heard, even if it’s critical of me. This journey has also really helped me to embrace who I am and remain secure in myself through highs and lows. Social media is a fickle friend — I have experienced amazing growth and engagement at times, but I have also gone through periods where my followers and engagement seemed to be tanking. At first, it was very difficult for me to not put my entire self-worth in my online presence. Over time, I’ve grown to judge myself and my work by my own standards rather than by what does well on my page. All in all, I wouldn’t change these struggles because I feel they have made me into a much more confident and grounded person.

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I discuss pop culture on Tik Tok, mostly in the form of docuseries covering celebrities or organizations with interesting stories. My page also features lifestyle content, which I create simply to have fun and interact on a more personal level with my followers. I work to give accurate and empathetic stories to others, and I push for that in every series I develop. I have always said that no person is simply all good or all bad, and we have all been the hero, the villain, and the victim in someone’s story. So, within my series, I want the complexity of life to be visible. I refuse to only present the good or bad moments on the subject because it only lends itself to polarization. While I sometimes offer my own thoughts, my aim is to have each person watching think critically and decide for themselves what they think about each action or situation throughout the story. Leading with empathy is always the goal, and I strive to remain respectful without sugarcoating the problematic nature of some situations. A common piece of criticism I get is people who believe that my commentary is gossipy, hateful, or bothering a celebrity. However, my strong belief is that not all criticism is hateful, even when it is negative, and that discussion of our public figures is incredibly important for our growth individually and as a society. And I support those commenters in their expression of their personal opinion and commentary on my work, as I have also shared my work publicly. Ultimately, I want what I do to provide value for others and allow them to think critically, relax, gain inspiration, or learn something new. If I am doing that for anyone, I feel I have succeeded!

We’d love to hear about any fond memories you have from when you were growing up?
Watching the history channel and drinking hot chocolate with my grandfather. It was a frequent activity of ours.

Contact Info:

• Website: msha.ke/strawberryoats4ever
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lauralee_johnson/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/LauraLeeJ