Kim Zolciak And Phaedra Parks Talk The Return Of Bravo's "Real Housewives of Atlanta"

Some of Bravo's hottest "Housewives" are back to reclaim their throne as one of TV's guiltiest pleasures. "The Real Housewives of Atlanta" is back with its mix of most black high society and higher drama, with buzzworthy stars Nene Leakes and Kim Zolciak returning, and two new housewives joining the mix.

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With two successful seasons under their belts, season 3 sees even less of the six women as housewives and more as career woman. Grammy Award-winner Kandi is getting her singer/songwriter career back on track, while helping businesswoman and aspiring singer Kim with her burgeoning music career. Nene takes on an entertainment reporter job for the local morning show, Sheree tries her hand at acting, and even new housewives fashion model Cynthia Bailey and entertainment attorney Phaedra Parks show that the only "housewives" on this season are in the title.

But how does this season reflect, for some, their newfound success? "Well, it's really different," Kim Zolciak told AHN about the new season. "I mean I have a new wig. "It looks a lot better honey, okay? That's what happens when you have your own wig line."

Along with capitalizing on her "Housewives" fame by launching her own line of wigs, Zolciak also earned a hit dance single "Don't Be Tardy for the Party" and has a follow-up, "Google Me," dropping this month. The new season sees her working on new music, but also what happens when a local socialite earns national notoriety.

"I used to be able to go to the grocery store looking a hot mess but I can't really do that anymore, Zolciak said. "The kids are older now. I have one in middle school and she's dealing with the show and the press. My personal life is different and you get to see that unfold this season."

While other housewives seem to be running for the hills (see exits from NJ's Danielle Staub and Atlanta's Lisa Wu-Hartwell, among others), Parks, the self-proclaimed southern belle who's appeared on Fox News and shows like "Extra" for her entertainment law expertise, joined the show knowing what comes with it.

But along with expecting plenty of gossip, Parks is actually expecting, and the father of the baby is her husband Apollo Nida, who ended his 18-year prison sentence last year for what Parks calls a "white collar crime."

"I'm always up for a challenge and I thought it'd be a great new experience," Parks said. "Like I told someone else, I'm in the water so I just gotta enjoy the swim and it's been fun. I'm just enjoying the ride and what comes with it honey, you know, life gives you poop sometimes but that's why we have toilet tissue. So I'm ready."

Season 3 of "The Real Housewives of Atlanta" premieres on Bravo Monday, October 4th at 9pm/8c.