Kelly johnson is a writer and culture critic whose work explores popular culture, big emotions, and the complexities of real life—especially for women who are choosing lives that don't follow traditional scripts. She writes THE OPT OUT, a twice-weekly substack newsletter about womanhood without motherhood. Ranked among the top 100 culture newsletters on the platform, THE OPT OUT was named the #1 rising newsletter in its category in july 2025 and has earned praise as “the safest place on the internet” and “a letter from your wise but funny yet kind friend.”

Prior to launching THE OPT OUT, johnson spent nearly seven years as director of marketing at cupcakes and cashmere, where she also wrote dozens of personal essays between 2018 and 2023. Her writing blends warmth and wit with sharp cultural insight, often reflecting on how media—from reality tv to social trends—shapes our ideas of fulfillment, success, and identity. She is currently seeking representation for her debut novel, loosely inspired by LOVE ISLAND, and is at work on her second.

Johnson holds a master’s degree in marketing from the university of southern california, where she graduated as valedictorian in 2019. After more than a decade in los angeles, she left the sunshine behind and now lives in a 1970s treehouse in minneapolis–st. paul with her husband and their dog, pig.