"I don't consider myself a goody-goody, but I like to be perceived as classy"
About this Quote
"Perceived as classy" is the real tell. Classiness here is less an inner state than a public-facing brand - a controlled image in an industry where women are constantly sorted into types: the mess, the ingenue, the temptress, the diva. Johnston is naming the bargain plainly: you can be imperfect, even a little unruly, as long as your packaging signals taste, restraint, and professionalism. It's a way of keeping agency over the narrative without pretending to be above the narrative.
The subtext is about survival in celebrity culture, where "likable" is often code for "non-threatening". She wants room to be human - flawed, funny, maybe even sharp-edged - while still being granted the social permission that comes with "classy". It's not hypocrisy so much as realism: in public life, perception isn't shallow; it's currency.
Quote Details
| Topic | Witty One-Liners |
|---|---|
| Source | Help us find the source |
| Cite |
Citation Formats
APA Style (7th ed.)
Johnston, Kristen. (2026, January 15). I don't consider myself a goody-goody, but I like to be perceived as classy. FixQuotes. https://fixquotes.com/quotes/i-dont-consider-myself-a-goody-goody-but-i-like-146722/
Chicago Style
Johnston, Kristen. "I don't consider myself a goody-goody, but I like to be perceived as classy." FixQuotes. January 15, 2026. https://fixquotes.com/quotes/i-dont-consider-myself-a-goody-goody-but-i-like-146722/.
MLA Style (9th ed.)
"I don't consider myself a goody-goody, but I like to be perceived as classy." FixQuotes, 15 Jan. 2026, https://fixquotes.com/quotes/i-dont-consider-myself-a-goody-goody-but-i-like-146722/. Accessed 13 Feb. 2026.









