Pari Kim has quickly become one of the breakout stars of Love on the Spectrum season three — and not just for her infectious enthusiasm, love of trains, or bubbly energy.
The 23-year-old Boston native made history on the Netflix dating series as part of the show’s first-ever LGBTQ+ couple. And yes — she’s still happily dating her co-star, Tina Zhu Xi Caruso.
“It’s going really well with us. I just love her so much,” Pari told The Advocate. “She is really the Amtrak to my commuter. She’s just perfect for me.”
All Aboard for Love
Pari and Tina’s romance unfolded in the most endearing and honest way, including one now-viral moment where the pair nervously shared their curiosity about what it might be like to kiss a girl.
“I always wonder what it would be like to kiss a girl, honestly,” Pari said on the show.
“Yeah. I wonder, too,” Tina replied.
The sweet, silent pause that followed struck a chord with queer viewers everywhere, many of whom saw themselves in the couple’s shy but genuine connection.
Their first kiss came soon after — on a scenic train ride, of course. Ever thoughtful, Tina even skipped gluten that day “just in case.”
“Princess Charming” and a Train-Themed Dream Wedding
Now, the couple is dreaming about the future — and yes, it includes more trains.
“We talked about someday getting married and having a train-themed wedding,” said Pari. “Maybe like, rent out a private Amtrak charter train. A nice vintage steam engine would be really cool, but yeah, it’s gotta have trains in it.”
Pari lovingly refers to Tina as her “Princess Charming” and says their bond has only deepened since filming wrapped.
“I love how we both get so excited together. She’s just the sweetest, and I can always count on her. She keeps me on track — no pun intended,” she laughed.
Viral Fame and Transit Dreams
Since the season aired, Pari’s life has changed overnight. Her Instagram briefly locked her out due to an overwhelming influx of new followers.
“Some fans want to ride the T with me or say they’ve been touched by the show,” she said. “I just love all my fans and I hope they realise how much of an impact they make on my life.”
As the self-proclaimed leader of her friend group the “Railfans,” Pari dreams of a career in transit social media — perhaps at Amtrak or Boston’s MBTA.
“I have so many great ideas I want to bring to the table,” she said. “I feel like I have a good creative vision, and they could use more diversity in their teams.”
Proud, Queer, and Autistic
Pari is proud of her intersecting identities — queer and autistic — and says being open about both has meant the world to fans.
“There’s a lot more of us out there than you think,” she said. “It’s just part of who we are.”
While online trolls occasionally leave hurtful comments, Pari meets them with resilience.
“People say, ‘You’re confused’ or ‘Your sister’s a bad influence.’ No — this is just who we are, and we don’t have to change ourselves,” she said. “Just ignore the haters and bullies because they just want to get a rise out of you. There’s always going to be way more people who love and support you.”
Looking Ahead
Pari says she would love to return for Love on the Spectrum season four, and maybe even explore more projects in TV or film alongside Tina.
“I want to continue telling my story,” she said. “And Tina has so many things she wants to share, too.”
Her message to the world is as simple as it is powerful:
“There’s nothing wrong with being autistic or LGBTQ+. I’m proud to be me.”
