Alexandria Chef's Southern Dishes Earn National Notoriety with Brand Partnership

Keidra Johnson's flat-top cooking videos on social media have led to a partnership with Blackstone Products.

Published on Feb. 20, 2026

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

Keidra Johnson, a content creator from Alexandria, Louisiana, has built a growing audience on social media by sharing her southern recipes and flat-top cooking videos. What started as a Mother's Day gift and a few casual cooking videos has now led to a brand partnership with Blackstone Products, a major griddle manufacturer, after her videos gained national attention.

Why it matters

Johnson's story highlights how a passion for cooking and a willingness to share it online can lead to unexpected opportunities, even for creators from small towns. Her partnership with Blackstone shows that authentic, community-focused content can resonate nationally and create new avenues for supplemental income and growth.

The details

Johnson, who creates content under the name @Low_Kei__, began posting cooking videos on Facebook, TikTok, and Instagram, focusing on everyday southern meals prepared both in her kitchen and on a Blackstone griddle. Her first viral video, showing her frying chicken on a flat-top, reached about 3 million views within days, showcasing the versatility of flat-top cooking and helping define her niche. As her following grew, the platform also became a source of supplemental income for Johnson. Blackstone later discovered her videos on Instagram and featured her content in a YouTube series, leading to Johnson joining the Blackstone Griddle Crew as the company's first formal brand partnership with her.

  • Johnson received a Blackstone griddle as a Mother's Day gift in 2025.
  • Johnson's first viral video, showing her frying chicken on a flat-top, reached about 3 million views within days.
  • Blackstone discovered Johnson's videos on Instagram and featured her content in a YouTube series in early 2026.
  • Johnson was accepted into the Blackstone Griddle Crew, marking her first formal brand partnership, in 2026.

The players

Keidra Johnson

A content creator from Alexandria, Louisiana, who shares southern recipes and flat-top cooking videos under the name @Low_Kei__.

Blackstone Products

A major manufacturer of griddles that discovered Johnson's videos and offered her a brand partnership as part of their Blackstone Griddle Crew.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“I genuinely love the small-town feel and sense of community here. Running into people at the store and hearing they tried one of my recipes really makes my heart smile. It reminds me I'm sharing something I love with my neighbors.”

— Keidra Johnson (cenlanow.com)

“Food was more than just eating. It was about family, comfort and bringing people together.”

— Keidra Johnson (cenlanow.com)

“I realized then that I could cook almost anything on it and the possibilities were endless.”

— Keidra Johnson (cenlanow.com)

“Seeing those products and knowing they believed in my content was very special.”

— Keidra Johnson (cenlanow.com)

“It feels amazing. Being from a small town in Central Louisiana, there isn't always a lot of representation. It makes me proud to show someone from a small community can share what they love and be noticed.”

— Keidra Johnson (cenlanow.com)

What’s next

Johnson said her goals over the next year include continued audience growth, expanding brand collaborations, and working toward a future cookbook, one of her biggest long-term ambitions along with possible kitchen merchandise tied to her brand.

The takeaway

Johnson's story demonstrates how a passion for cooking and a willingness to share it online can lead to unexpected opportunities, even for creators from small towns. Her partnership with Blackstone shows that authentic, community-focused content can resonate nationally and create new avenues for supplemental income and growth.