The way the internet reacts to a young actress who looks a little different than she did a season ago is almost reflexive. The Canadian actress Anna Cathcart, who portrays Kitty Covey in Netflix’s XO, Kitty, has been the target of precisely that kind of scrutiny, which can range from mildly intriguing to genuinely unsettling. Millions of people have watched TikTok videos analyzing her appearance over the last few months. Her weight is the topic. The tone ranges from worried to patronizing.
It’s worth taking a moment to consider why this is even a story.
Since the character’s spin-off from the To All the Boys movie series, Cathcart has portrayed Katherine “Kitty” Covey, gaining a devoted following that obviously cares a great deal about her—possibly a bit too much about her size. She “gained 20 pounds” before Season 3, according to a number of circulating videos, while others maintained that she had “lost 40 pounds” in preparation for filming. They can’t both be true. The fact that neither figure originates from a verified source is almost certainly true, and the contradiction itself shows how much of this discourse is based on conjecture masquerading as concern.
A detail that emerged from purportedly trustworthy sources adds a little intrigue and complexity to the entire discussion: Kitty, the director of XO, allegedly told Cathcart to keep her natural body throughout production rather than purposefully lose weight. In an industry that has spent decades doing the opposite, if that directive is correct, it is uncommon. This may have been a conscious artistic and moral decision, reflecting a gradual but significant change in how some productions are starting to consider body image and the pressure on young actresses. It is more difficult to determine whether that framing is true or has been somewhat sanitized for public consumption.
Cathcart is twenty-two years old. According to her own bio, she has 6.3 million Instagram followers and has been hiking, spending time with family, and reportedly reducing her screen time by 78%. That has a subtle grounding quality. The people hoping for a dramatic reaction are probably frustrated because she doesn’t seem to be acting distressed about any of this.
An additional layer is added by the teeth conversation. Fans and onlookers noticed that Cathcart’s teeth appeared different around Season 2; a gap that had previously existed seemed to have changed. A dentist contributed to an article outlining the anticipated modifications. As I read the commentary, I was struck by how quickly these seemingly insignificant observations about a young woman’s face and body accumulated to create this ongoing audit of her physical self. It’s difficult to ignore how infrequently male co-stars are treated similarly.
Cathcart’s frame sparked sincere conversation on Reddit’s Kibbe community, which discusses celebrity body types with a charming yet slightly ridiculous earnestness. Because of her proportions and the way her weight is distributed in her lower body, some users claimed she read as a Dramatic Classic. Others retaliated. Compared to the TikTok content, the thread is strangely wholesome, with most people attempting to classify clothing lines rather than passing judgment on someone’s health.
Although the general pattern isn’t new, it keeps coming in fresh packaging. Every few months, a young actress is the focus of a weight-related story that goes viral. These stories are typically framed with false concern, sometimes wrapped in praise for “bravery,” and nearly always reduce a person to a comparison photo or a number. The fact that Cathcart is the topic of discussion right now probably says more about the internet’s desire for this kind of content than it does about her choices, appearance, or professional background.
Cathcart is still Netflix’s anchor, and XO, Kitty is still doing well. The success of the show is based on her performance, not her weight, regardless of whether Season 4 is released or the plot concludes in a movie, as some reports have suggested. That appears to be the issue that truly merits attention.
FAQs
1. Did Anna Cathcart actually gain weight for XO, Kitty Season 3?
No verified source confirms the specific weight figures circulating online.
2. What did the director say about Anna Cathcart’s body during filming?
She was reportedly instructed to maintain her natural physique without intentional weight loss.
3. Why did Anna Cathcart look different in XO, Kitty Season 2?
She reportedly had dental adjustments done between seasons that altered her teeth gap.
4. How many Instagram followers does Anna Cathcart have?
She has 6.3 million followers on Instagram.
5. Is XO, Kitty returning for Season 4?
A wrap-up film is among the options currently being considered by Netflix.
