Many Filipinos who grew up in the 1990s might be familiar with the name Kim de los Santos. She was the lovable and sweet teenage girl who graced Saturday afternoon television on the popular Filipino series T.G.I.S. in those years.
However, for younger generations who came after that era, she might not be as familiar. That’s because Kim de los Santos experienced a dramatic turning point in her life. From the bright lights of Philippine showbiz, she chose a completely different path, eventually working in a psychiatric clinic in the United States. This article takes a closer look at her inspiring journey.
Becoming Teen Superstar
Kim de los Santos, whose full name is Kim Nicole Gehring de los Santos, was born in New Jersey, USA. She has Filipino-American roots from her father, Hormaidas de los Santos, and her mother, Dolores.
Her acting career began at just six years old with her first movie, Rosenda, in 1989. Her incredible performance in this movie earned her a Best Child Performer award from the Film Academy of the Philippines.
By the mid-1990s, Kim de los Santos had solidified her status as a teen icon by playing Tere Gonzaga in GMA Network’s T.G.I.S. It was also during this show that she met her on-screen love team partner, actor Dino Guevarra, who later became her real-life partner.
Life Journey
Her romance with Dino Guevarra didn’t last too long. When their relationship turned toxic, Kim de los Santos made the shocking decision, especially for her fans, to leave the entertainment industry in 2004, right at the peak of her fame.
She left the Philippines and moved to the U.S. without a college degree. In her early days there, she took on humble jobs such as mopping floors, stuffing insurance cards into envelopes, and answering phones. For Kim de los Santos, this was a form of detox — a chance to escape the pressures of her old life and rebuild herself from the ground up.
After years of soul-searching, 28-year-old Kim began to question her life’s direction: What do you want? Where are you? What’s your purpose? These reflections reignited her dream of becoming a nurse.
With her father’s support in paying for her tuition, Kim de los Santos trained as a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) and began working at a Houston clinic, while also holding a restaurant job to make ends meet. Her strong determination pushed her further — she eventually earned a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) and specialized as a psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner.
Despite facing discrimination and health challenges along the way, Kim de los Santos persevered and found her place in the mental health field, a profession deeply connected to her personal journey of healing.
Return to Home Country
Recently, Kim de los Santos has not been in a romantic relationship and focuses on her self-healing. A testament to her capacity for forgiveness came when she reconciled with Karen, Dino Guevarra’s current wife, and even became friends with her, marking her true turning point in moving on from the past.
In July 2025, she returned to the Philippines and reunited with her former T.G.I.S. and Anna Karenina castmates. The gathering also served as a tribute to the late Red Sternberg, whom she called her “first love.” The reunion stirred nostalgia among fans who remembered the bond they shared during their showbiz years.
This inspiring life of Kim de los Santos teaches us that walking away from fame does not mean failure. Starting over, even if it means beginning from scratch, is possible when you put yourself, your peace, and your purpose first.
