[3][4] Johnson, the daughter of Annette, a science teacher, and Richard, a pharmaceutical sales manager, was born in Colorado Springs, Colorado, spent her early childhood in Pennsylvania, and moved to Westlake Village, California, prior to starting middle school.

[7] In 2007, Johnson graduated with honors from the University of Southern California with a Bachelor of Arts in Communication, concentrating in sports and entertainment.

[8][9] When Johnson was 17, she read an advertisement in the Thousand Oaks Acorn for Miss California Teenager.

Johnson, a student at Moorpark College, wanted to transfer to the University of Southern California and thought the scholarship would help pay her education.

[5] After previously being first runner-up in the 2007 pageant,[6] Johnson won the Miss California USA 2010 title in November 2009.