Kandi Burruss spoke to PEOPLE about the advice she's given her daughter Riley, 23, about reality TV stardom
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"Don't let them rewind no tapes on you," Kandi shared
After making appearances alongside her mom in The Real Housewives of Atlanta over the years, Riley was cast in the premiere season of Bravo's Next Gen NYC
Kandi Burrussis sharing how she's prepared her daughterRiley Burrussfor reality TV stardom.
While stepping out toEssence's Black Women in Hollywood event in Los Angeles on Thursday, March 12, theReal Housewives of Atlantaalum, 49, revealed the advice she gave Riley as she made a solo foray into reality TV. After making appearances alongside her mom onRHOAover the years, the 23-year-old was cast in Bravo'sNext Gen NYC, which aired its premiere season last year.
The show, which follows a group of friends in their 20s as they navigate life in New York City, features several other children ofHousewivesstars, includingKim Zolciak-Biermann's daughterAriana Biermann,Teresa Giudice's daughterGia GiudiceandMeredith Marks' sonBrooks Marks.
Sharing how she helped guide Riley through the experience, Kandi told PEOPLE, "Well, I just told her don't be on there [and] say anything that you ain't going to stand behind. You got to make sure you keep it honest on this show."
"And even if you say something they don't like, just own it and keep it pushing," she continued. "Don't let them rewind no tapes on you like how they do [with] people on the shows. We not doing that."
Kandi — who departedRHOAin 2024 after 14 seasons — said she told Riley that she's "got to keep it strong, confident, honest, and just... Hey, I know it's going to be crazy, but we'll deal with it as it comes."
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The& Julietshares Riley with her ex Russell Spencer. The 23-year-old graduated from New York University in May 2024 and then joined theNext Gen NYCcast.
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Kandi previously told PEOPLE that she was"scared" for her daughter to join the reality TV world.
"It's your baby, you know what I mean?" she said at the 2025 BET Awards. "People already be trying to say crazy stuff about my child online and other celebrity kids. When it's her out front, it's like really nothing I could do to shelter her."
"Because now it's really, all eyes are on you. It ain't about me," she continued. "You're not just catching a stray. It's like people can really just focus on you and say whatever they want to say, and for sure so I'm scared. Oh, Lord. I'm scared of what she gonna be doing on there, child."
While appearing on the Feb. 22 episode ofWatch What Happens Live, Kandi spoke about her financial support of Riley as she joked that the 23-year-old "runs through my pockets." She also revealed that she was still paying for her daughter's apartment.
"I mean, you know, she lives in New York in a two-bedroom in a nice building," Kandi told hostAndy Cohen.
When Cohen, 57, then asked if Riley had a roommate to fill up the second bedroom, Kandi simply replied, "No," and then poked fun at her daughter, who wants to be a lawyer, with the way she "argues her points."
"She was like, 'Mom, it's for my mental health,' " Kandi explained, adding, "I promise you, it was a whole thing."
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