The Real Deal on The Real Housewives of Atlanta

Since premiering in the fall of 2008, 'The Real Housewives of Atlanta' has become the highest rated series in the 'Housewives' franchise and the highest rated series on the Bravo network. The show's line-up has shifted since the first season, but the ladies of The Peach State have consistently kept fans tuned in to see whether someone's wig would be snatched off, a party would be crashed and if Kim Zolciak really does have the chops to become a singer. The ladies myriad of personalities is sure to keep the people tuned in for years to come.

The Real Deal on The Real Housewives of Atlanta

Nene Leakes
Queens, New York native Nene Leakes (born Linnethia Monique Johnson) has continuously been the firecracker amongst the 'Housewives.' Never one to mince words, the former stripper published her memoir 'Never Make the Same Mistake Twice' in 2009 and also founded a non-profit called Twisted Hearts Foundation to support women who have suffered domestic violence. Leakes, who has lived in Atlanta for twenty years and was raised in Athens, is married to former real estate mogul, Gregg, and has two songs Bryson and Brennt.

The Real Deal on The Real Housewives of Atlanta

Sheree Whitfield
Single mother of three, Sheree Whitfield previously owned a popular Atlanta clothing store called Bella Azul. Since closing her store, the Ohio native began to focus her efforts on releasing her first clothing line called She by Sheree. Previously married to NFL player Bob Whitfield, Whitfield is now concentrating on becoming an actress and in 2010 made her acting debut in the Kendrick D. Young's stage play 'Heaven I Need A Hug.'

The Real Deal on The Real Housewives of Atlanta

Lisa Wu Hartwell
Lisa Wu Hartwell is the career woman of the group. In addition to owning her own real estate firm, Hartwell & Associates, she also has a jewelry line, baby clothing line and women's clothing like called Closet Freak. Like Sheree Whitfield, the bi-racial beauty is an aspiring actress. The Inglewood, California native is the mother of three boys and married to former NFL player Ed Hartwell. Her ex-husband is R&B singer Keith Sweat.

The Real Deal on The Real Housewives of Atlanta

Kim Zolciak
Divorcee Kim Zolciak is the lone white woman on the series. The mother of two girls, teenager Brielle and Ariana, divorced from her ex-husband when she was pregnant with their youngest daughter. The 'Tardy for the Party' singer has previously been romantically involved with a married mystery man, who she refers to as Big Poppa -- and though she briefly dated a woman, she also dated Atlanta Falcons player Kroy Biermann.

The Real Deal on The Real Housewives of Atlanta

Denene Millner
Nene Leakes enlisted the help of veteran entertainment journalist Denene Millner to co-write her memoir, 'Never Make the Same Mistake Twice.' Millner, who resides in Atlanta with her husband and three kids, also co-wrote the New York Times Best-Seller 'Act Like A Lady, Think Like A Man' by Steve Harvey and the book, 'Dreamgirls,' which is the novelization of the Tony Award-winning Broadway musical, which was adapted into an Oscar-winning movie of the same name. The Hofstra University grad supported Leakes on her quest to find her birth father on season two of 'Housewives.'

The Real Deal on The Real Housewives of Atlanta

Kandi Burruss
This former Xscape front-woman joined the cast of 'Housewives' in its second season after NBA wife DeShawn Snow got the axe. Her ex-fiancé, A.J. Jewell was tragically killed before the second season was getting underway. The Grammy Award-winning singer/songwriter, and proud single mother, most famously penned 'No Scrubs' for TLC and she famously wrote her co-star Kim Zolciak's dance hit 'Tardy for the Party.'

The Real Deal on The Real Housewives of Atlanta

Eric Snow
DeShawn Snow and her ex-husband NBA veteran Eric Snow were college sweethearts. Eric began his professional basketball career with the Milwaukee Bucks in 1995. He has since played for the Seattle SuperSonics, the Philadelphia 76ers and when he appeared sporadically on the first season of 'Housewives' he was a guard for the Cleveland Cavaliers. He was also previously named co-captain of the Cavaliers, a leadership position he shared with LeBron James. The religious couple split and he is an NBA TV analyst.

The Real Deal on The Real Housewives of Atlanta

Big Poppa
For two seasons, Kim Zolciak had an on-again, off-again relationship with a man known as Big Poppa. It has since been discovered that the mystery man was married real estate developer Lee Najjar, a popular figure on the Atlanta social scene, who had hosted Jermaine Dupri and Dallas Austin at his home. His children were also featured on MTV's 'Teen Cribs.' And, though it was finally revealed that he was only separated from his wife, Kim, and not divorced, on the second season of 'Housewives,' he allegedly popped the question to the 'Tardy for the Party' singer.

The Real Deal on The Real Housewives of Atlanta

Phaedra Parks
An Atlanta-based entertainment attorney, Phaedra Parks previously represented Bobby Brown and a host of other athletes and entertainers as owner of the boutique entertainment firm, The Parks Group, P.C. The Wesleyan University grad – who has been romantically linked to rappers Mystikal, Mannie Fresh and Too Short, joined the cast of 'Housewives' during the third season and is a friend of both Dwight Eubanks and Kandi Burruss. The Athens, Georgia native and her new ex-con husband, Apollo Nida, welcomed their first child, a boy, into their family in May.

The Real Deal on The Real Housewives of Atlanta