XO, Kitty has been building one of teen TV’s most exciting queer worlds
BY ROISIN TEELING, IMAGE BY NETFLIX
The bingeable XO, Kitty has returned to Netflix for season three, and if you’re anything like us, you’ve probably already raced through it. Here is everything you need to know about the women bringing to life the show’s most-loved lesbian and bisexual characters.
Regan Aliyah
Yuri and Juliana secretly date, but when Yuri’s mother discovers the truth, Juliana is forcibly sent away. Juliana returns to KISS with the possibility of being openly together. Their relationship quickly becomes strained as Kitty develops feelings for Yuri, and after a kiss between them, Juliana becomes increasingly aware of the tension. In season three, Juliana enters a relationship with Praveena Bhakti before realising she is still not over Yuri.
Regan Aliyah was part of the 2017 digital reboot of Club Mickey Mouse. In 2025, she expanded into the Marvel universe, joining Ironheart as Zelma Stanton and she is also one half of the music duo RYBE with her sister Ryan Asher. Regan has also shared parts of her personal life on social media, publicly coming out as gay in 2021 with an Instagram post where she wrote that she “likes girls” and celebrated Pride openly. She has since given glimpses into her relationship with Natalie Schlesinger, including how they first met unexpectedly during a cross-country trip.
Anna Cathcart
Kitty Song-Covey is the endearingly messy heart of XO, Kitty. Yuri becomes part of Kitty’s major queer awakening, with Anna Cathcart saying she was so excited to portray this relationship because of how rare and meaningful it is on screen. “I love that Kitty is just giving herself the space to figure it out. And she doesn’t have to have all the answers.”
Despite growing up in the industry, Anna is studying sociology and creative writing while juggling filming. Off-screen, she keeps things refreshingly low-maintenance, singing the praises of high-street beauty products like Rimmel’s Stay Matte Liquid Mousse Foundation. She’s described herself as a “day one Swiftie” and listed Taylor Swift among the artists she grew up listening to.
Gia Kim
Every high-school drama needs the disgustingly rich, Regina George-esque mean girl, and Yuri Han looks like she could ruin your life and you would still say thank you. She presents a perfect relationship with Dae, but it’s quickly revealed she is secretly dating Juliana. When Kitty arrives, Yuri is pulled into a confusing but powerful connection with her, and they even share a kiss. In the end, though, they come to realise their bond is more of a friendship.
She is played by Gia Kim and is the sister of Sang Heon Lee who plays Min Ho, making the love triangle feel all the more messy. She’s Korean-Danish and described herself as a “third-culture” kid, growing up across multiple countries such as Korea and China. In an interview with Bustle, Yuri spoke proudly about how she has never seen a character like Yuri before, “a gay Asian queen-bee type.” She was excited by how different and layered Yuri was compared to typical teen roles.
Sasha Bhasin
Praveena Bhakti shares romantic moments with Kitty in season two, but their relationship eventually ends after Praveena realises Kitty still has unresolved feelings for Yuri. Praveena goes on to date Juliana in season three, only to discover that Juliana is still emotionally tied to her ex.
Sasha Bhasin is an Indian-born actress who moved to the US as a baby. She studied Politics at New York University, saying college helped her “find her voice” and fully pursue acting. She has described Praveena as a meaningful role because it represents a South Asian queer character in a mainstream Netflix series, and one where identity is present but not defining.
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