If you just finished binge-watching the second season of Netflix’s XO, Kitty, your head is probably spinning. We went into this season expecting more of the cute, messy love triangle energy between Kitty, Dae, and Min Ho. Instead, we got hit with a psychological curveball in the form of Stella Cho. Honestly, she might be one of the most polarizing characters to enter the To All the Boys universe since, well, forever.
She shows up at KISS (Korean Independent School of Seoul) as this bubbly, church-going exchange student from Pepper Pike, Ohio. She’s nice. Almost too nice. She’s Kitty’s new roommate, and for a hot minute, you actually think Kitty has found a genuine bestie to navigate the drama with. But as the episodes roll on, that "midwestern charm" starts to feel a little... off.
It turns out that Stella Cho in XO Kitty isn't even her real name.
The Shocking Reveal: Who Is Stella Cho, Really?
Basically, the girl we know as Stella is actually Esther Shim. If that name sounds familiar to the deep-lore fans, it’s because she has a massive, humiliating history with Min Ho’s family—specifically his father, the legendary talent manager Mr. Moon.
Years ago, Esther was a contestant on one of Mr. Moon’s singing competitions. She got up there, sang her heart out with a cover of "Amazing Grace," and was absolutely shredded by him. He mocked her, rejected her, and the video went viral. She became a laughingstock.
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So, she didn't come to KISS to study or find herself. She came for blood.
By changing her name to Stella Cho and crafting this "sweet girl from Ohio" persona, she managed to infiltrate the inner circle of the people she hated most. It’s kinda brilliant in a twisted way, but it also makes her one of the most dangerous antagonists we've seen in a teen rom-com in a long time.
Audrey Huynh: The Breakout Star Behind the Mask
You've gotta hand it to Audrey Huynh, the actress who plays Stella. Stepping into a tight-knit cast is hard enough, but playing a character that has to flip from a "goody-two-shoes" to a literal blackmailer is a huge task.
In interviews, Audrey has mentioned that she didn't even know about the plot twist when she first booked the role. The script just said her character had a "secret." Can you imagine showing up to set thinking you're playing the new quirky sidekick and then finding out you're the season's big bad?
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She pulls it off, though. There’s this specific scene where the mask finally slips, and you see the cold, calculating Esther underneath the Stella Cho facade. It’s chilling. She’s not just a "mean girl"; she’s a person fueled by years of genuine trauma and public humiliation.
Why Stella Cho Matters to the Plot (and Min Ho)
The impact Stella has on the group isn't just about a fake name. She actively tries to destroy lives. By the end of the season, she’s resorting to straight-up blackmail. She threatens to expose a massive scandal involving Joon Ho (Min Ho’s brother) impregnating a backup dancer unless Min Ho and his family rig a singing competition so she can win.
It’s messy.
This whole ordeal leaves Min Ho completely scarred. At the end of the season, when Kitty is finally ready to confront her feelings for him, he’s in a place where he has basically sworn off relationships. He was vulnerable with Stella, and she used him. It’s a total gut-punch for the "Team Min Ho" fans who were waiting for that big romantic moment.
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Will Stella Cho Return for Season 3?
Here is the part that might disappoint some of you: it doesn't look like we'll be seeing more of Stella.
After her plan is foiled—shoutout to Kitty for that genius move where Joon Ho takes the stage and reveals the truth himself—Stella/Esther is caught by security. Reports and casting updates have suggested that Audrey Huynh won't be returning for Season 3. Min Ho’s dad essentially ships her back to Ohio, and her story arc feels pretty wrapped up, even if it ended in disgrace.
What We Can Learn from the Stella Cho Drama
If you’re looking for the "takeaway" here, it’s that XO, Kitty is officially moving away from the simple "who will she choose?" trope. Stella Cho brought a level of stakes to the show that felt more like a K-drama thriller than a standard Netflix teen show.
- Trust is a luxury: Even the most "innocent" characters have layers.
- Revenge is a cycle: Esther’s pain was real, but her methods turned her into exactly what she hated.
- Digital footprints are forever: That viral video from years ago was the catalyst for everything.
If you want to dive deeper into the world of KISS before the next season drops, you should definitely re-watch the scenes in Season 2 where Stella is "helping" Kitty. Now that you know her true identity, you'll see all the tiny ways she was manipulating the situation from the very beginning. It's like watching a completely different show.
Keep an eye on the official Netflix social channels for Season 3 production updates, because the fallout from Stella's sabotage is definitely going to be the main hurdle for Kitty and Min Ho's potential future.