Kelley McCullough shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.
Good morning Kelley, we’re so happy to have you here with us and we’d love to explore your story and how you think about life and legacy and so much more. So let’s start with a question we often ask: What do you think is misunderstood about your business?
Content creation isn’t easy or an overnight success story. It takes time, constant brainstorming, trial and error, wins, setbacks, and a whole lot of risk-taking. Behind every post is effort, intention, and the courage to keep showing up—even when the results aren’t immediate.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My name is Kelley McCullough. By day, I work in Corporate America in sales and recruitment—but by night (and weekends), I step into my creative world of fashion and Korean dramas. Originally from Detroit, I’ve also called Cincinnati and Brooklyn home before settling in Dallas, Texas.
I run two Instagram and TikTok pages that reflect my passions: @KelleyAleecee, where I share my love for fashion and personal style, and @KdramaKels, dedicated to all things Korean drama. I launched both at the end of 2024, and they’ve quickly become more than just hobbies—they’re creative outlets that let me connect with others, express myself authentically, and inspire beyond the 9-to-5.
Thanks for sharing that. Would love to go back in time and hear about how your past might have impacted who you are today. What relationship most shaped how you see yourself?
My mom is truly one of a kind. I’m the youngest of eight—three boys and five girls—and even as a child, I knew she was the smartest person I’d ever met. At 39, I still believe that without a doubt. You’ll never catch her without a good book in hand, and she’s the kind of listener who makes you feel truly heard.
She shaped so much of who I am today. I’ve always loved our conversations—she’s incredibly observant, wise, and thoughtful. I wish I had her level of patience, deep intuition, and unwavering integrity. She lives her life with a quiet strength and a moral compass that never wavers. One conversation with her can leave you with a life lesson, and that’s why my friends adore her too. She’s authentic, genuine, and grounded in who she is.
She knows each of her eight children inside and out, somehow remembering even the tiniest details about our lives. I’ll never forget when she told me as a little girl, “You’re going to need a good job—you’ve got expensive taste.” She always thought ahead, planning for our futures and guiding us with love, wisdom, and the kind of integrity that truly defines character.
What have been the defining wounds of your life—and how have you healed them?
My parents divorced when I was five. It was a season of uncertainty that shook the foundation of who I was. As a child, I didn’t have the words for what I felt, but I knew it left me questioning everything—myself, my beliefs, even my parents.
For a child, divorce can feel like the death of a relationship—only without the closure of an actual loss. When my parent emotionally checked out and turned their focus inward, my siblings and I were left to figure things out on our own. The family structure we once relied on quietly crumbled.
I grew up in the church, but I didn’t yet have the kind of personal relationship with Jesus that could anchor me. That began to change after college, when I moved to Cincinnati for work. There, I found community at Crossroads Church and began hearing God’s voice in new ways. Serving and joining small groups became a turning point.
That’s also where I met Courtney Walton, a woman I truly believe God sent into my life. A licensed counselor, she discipled me for two years. She mostly listened. I talked endlessly about my parents’ divorce—things I had never said out loud. She gave me space to be raw, honest, and vulnerable.
At first, I wasn’t sure she was even listening. But when she reflected my words back to me—connecting them to patterns in my present life—it shook me. Her intentional care helped me feel seen and understood in a way I never had before.
Her guidance gave me the courage to finally talk to my parents. I asked the questions I had carried for years about their divorce and the choices that shaped me and my siblings.
That was the beginning of healing. Therapy, community, faith, and hard conversations brought clarity and restoration. I gained a deeper understanding of both myself and my parents.
Most importantly, I learned the power of grace, honesty, and the slow, steady work of emotional healing.
Next, maybe we can discuss some of your foundational philosophies and views? What would your closest friends say really matters to you?
I’d hope my closest friends would describe me as funny—and as someone who genuinely cares about others. My life truly revolves around people: my family, my friends, and being present for the ones I love. I’m also deeply passionate about my career, travel, fashion, Korean dramas, good food, and embracing every opportunity to live life to the fullest.
But I didn’t always live this way. After my first job out of college, I had a wake-up call when I read an article about older adults in a nursing home reflecting on their lives. Nearly all of them shared the same regret: not spending enough time with loved ones and not truly living without fear or hesitation. That struck me deeply. I realized how quickly time passes, and how easy it is to get trapped in routines that don’t fulfill us.
From that moment on, I made a promise to myself—to live with intention, to pursue my passions wholeheartedly, and to create a life that I could look back on without regrets.”
Thank you so much for all of your openness so far. Maybe we can close with a future oriented question. If you knew you had 10 years left, what would you stop doing immediately?
Stop worrying so much—seriously, LOL. I still chase the things I’ve always wanted to do, and that’s because years ago, I made a conscious decision to live without regret. That turning point shifted everything for me.
Pursuing content creation is part of that journey, and I’m not done—I’ve got plans to launch even more pages. I don’t want to wait until I feel “ready.” I’d rather just do it scared.
If I knew I had only ten years left, I’d start checking off my bucket list immediately. First up? Visiting Japan and South Korea—two places that have been at the top of my list for years. Life is too short to wait.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kelleyaleecee/profilecard/?igsh=MWh0OTlkM2liM2c3aQ==
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@kdramakels?_t=ZT-8xmmnK4JVgd&_r=1
@kelleyaleecee
https://www.instagram.com/kdramakels?igsh=eDNxeTZndTQyMWxh&utm_source=qr
Image Credits
For the 3 outside fashion photos , please credit Azelle McCullough
