Subscribe
Hellobeautiful Featured Video
CLOSE
2017 Pre-Oscar Gala For The American Black Film Institute - Arrivals

Source: Tasia Wells / Getty

With a new Xscape tour and a new season of Real Housewives of Atlanta about to pop off, Kandi Burruss is having a pretty great fall

But it’s her new October Essence cover that has made the 41-year-old’s dreams come true! Despite her successful 25-year career, this is the singer’s very first cover for the coveted magazineAnd she looks utterly amazing!

The song writer and reality star opened to the publication about a range of topics such as the importance of standing in her truth, raising children in the spotlight and the betrayal she experienced last season:

On the frailty of fame: “It’s a very humbling moment when your songs aren’t on the radio anymore. I didn’t appreciate what that success was when we had it. I remember feeling like, when I get things back the way I want them to be, I will never take anything for granted again.”

On how public betrayal made her rethink doing RHOA: “…I honestly had a lot of times when I just cried. There were moments when I really wanted to say, ‘You know what? I’m done with this!’ I was vindicated in front of millions, which helped me to feel comfortable again…”

Comparing single motherhood to her current blended family: “…as Riley got older, I saw that there were things she did miss, not having her dad really there. Now this is even better. We’re a whole family—we’ve got Riley, Kaela [Tucker’s 21-year-old daughter from a previous relationship] and Ace [the couple’s 21-month-old son.]”

On “grinding like she’s broke” and building and empire: “Some of us are doers and some of us are just dreamers. I’m both. I’m trying to build so that I can set up my children to have great futures. All of these different companies that we have, I would love for them to be passed down from generation to generation. I want my kids to be leaders.”

Congrats Kandi!

RELATED NEWS:

Taraji Slays Cover of ‘Marie Claire’ Stresses She ‘Would Love’To Be In ‘A Relationship’

Issa Rae Is The Newest Face Of CoverGirl

Be Yourself! Alicia Keys Is Bare-Faced And Beautiful On Four New ELLE Covers

CoverGirls: All The Beautiful Black Women Who Made The Brand Iconic
Getty Images Portrait Studio Powered By Samsung Galaxy At 2015 Summer TCA's
9 photos

For 2024’s iteration of MadameNoire and HelloBeautiful’s annual series Women to Know, we knew we wanted to celebrate the people who help make the joys of film and television possible. To create art is to create magic. This year, we spotlight Hollywood Executive’s changing the face of cinema.