From lighting up television screens in the ’90s as one of the beloved stars of T.G.I.S. and Anna Karenina, Kim delos Santos was once a familiar face in every Filipino household. She had the charm, the acting chops, and a career that many young actresses could only dream of. But in 2004, at the height of her popularity, Kim made a choice that would change her life entirely—she left the glitz of showbiz to start anew in the United States.

A leap into the unknown

In a candid interview with fellow actress Snooky Serna for her YouTube channel, Kim recalled her early years in America. The transition, she admitted, was anything but glamorous.

“Mahirap,” she began. “If you don’t have education, you have nothing to fall back on. Ano’ng magiging trabaho mo if you have no degree, what job are they going to give you?”

Armed only with a high school diploma, Kim took on whatever work came her way—mopping floors, stuffing insurance cards into envelopes, working as a receptionist. “Then one day, I asked myself my favorite question: ‘What do you want? Where are you at? What are your goals?’”

From reflection to action

At 28, Kim made the bold decision to return to school. With the support of her father, she pursued nursing—a path that would demand years of study and hard work. Eventually, she earned her license, becoming a nurse in Texas.

But even in her new profession, challenges persisted. “I was born in America pero mas magaling ako mag-Tagalog kaysa mag-English,” she shared. “Sa language at sobrang tabachingching, I was big. Apparently, I was depressed. Depression, hypothyroidism.”

Kim faced workplace discrimination and moments when she considered resigning. Yet she held on, drawing strength from her faith. “At your lowest point, the trickiest thing you can do is give in to depression and want to finish everything,” she reflected. “Have strong faith.”

A life beyond the spotlight

Looking back, Kim acknowledged that her decision to leave the Philippines was partly influenced by her past relationship with actor Dino Guevarra. But her years away from the cameras have given her new perspectives—and a different kind of fulfillment.

Today, Kim is not just a nurse but a psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner with a Master of Science in Nursing. Her journey from award-winning child actress in Rosenda (1989) to healthcare professional in Texas is a story of grit, reinvention, and quiet triumph.

Homecoming

After 21 years abroad, Kim returned to the Philippines on July 25, greeted by the country where her dreams first took flight. She remains a cherished figure in local pop culture, remembered fondly for her roles in T.G.I.S., Anna Karenina, and films like Laging Naroon Ka and Azucena.

Her message to anyone facing life’s toughest seasons is simple but powerful: “Have strong faith. Ask yourself the hard questions. And never be afraid to start over.”