After debuting with her mom, Kim Zolciak Biermann, on The Real Housewives of Atlanta over nine years ago, Brielle Biermann has lived nearly the majority of her life in front of the cameras. At just 20 years old, Brielle is already a reality TV pro and she’s set to join her family for the sixth season of their hit show Don’t Be Tardy, airing Friday nights at 8e/p on Slice.
We got to chat with the vibrant young star to cover everything from her relationship with professional baseball player Michael Kopech, to her massive online following (over 1 million followers on Instagram alone!), and even the advice she gave her mom when she found out she’d be rejoining The Real Housewives of Atlanta.
I feel like we’ve watched you grow up your entire childhood, does it ever stop getting weird hearing people say that?
No, I’m just so used to it by now – I think what’s so weird to me is that some people don’t actually watch me grow up so they think everything on me is fake or that I’m a different person than I used to be.
When so much of your life has been on camera, do you ever go back and watch the early years?
Oh my god, it’s funny, sometimes I’ll just leave the TV on in the background in my room and then all of the sudden a Real Housewives of Atlanta episode from when I was 12 years old will come on and I’m like “I can’t believe I looked like that!” It’s just funny to see how crazy we looked back then and how crazy we were – thank god we finally came to our senses and got a good glam squad!
Do you ever look back at those early years and cringe?
I’m always cringing at myself! I just wish that we could delete all of that, you know?
Were you nervous to find out your mom was jumping back into The Real Housewives of Atlanta?
I wasn’t too excited about it just because of what happened last time. I actually had to beg her to not go back after the last incident. But I think it’s good for her, and a good experience and I’m excited to see how things will play out. I’m friends with a lot of [the Altanta Housewives] and she has a history with most of them. I just think that she adds something different to the cast.
I just feel like she’s got these funny one-liners, she actually snaps back at everything they say, and at the end of the day she’s still a breath of fresh air. I just feel like some of them are so draining, and [my mom] adds a different touch to [the show].
Do you think she’ll hold her own?
Oh yeah! That’s like one thing my mom’s known for. Whether it comes to the women on The Real Housewives of Atlanta, or Kroy, or whatever, she will always hold her own.
Did you give her any advice this time around?
My friend Brandon and I always give her funny one-liners because she doesn’t keep up with the show. I don’t really keep up with it either but I know more than she does, so I’ll be like “this one said this, and this one did this,” and I just keep her updated.
How do you think you would perform if you were ever a main cast member on a Real Housewives franchise?
I don’t really think The Real Housewives of Atlanta, or any show like that, is the show for me. I’m not good under pressure, or in situations where I feel like I’m being attacked. All the drama is not for me, that’s why I feel like I’m so blessed to have a show like Don’t Be Tardy because I’m such a bubbly, lighthearted person.
That’s one of the best things about Don’t be Tardy, your personality really shines!
It’s like the best job in the world. I get to film every day and get to do it with my family – the people that I love the most. Our crew is so amazing that they’re like our second family. It’s just a fun family-oriented show, and I don’t think there are many other shows out there like ours.
What’s the hardest part about being the oldest sister?
I think the hardest part is being the only person who drives (other than my parents). I have to take everybody everywhere and run errands, and I just feel like I have to be a good influence [all the time]. Especially for my 16-year-old sister Ariana; she needs somebody she can look up to and I try so hard to teach her, and show her, how to be a young woman and to have respect for herself and things like that.
In season 5 we saw you working as your mom’s personal assistant. Are you still helping her with that?
Yeah, I’m still helping my mom, and you’ll see in the show that Ariana is my little helper as well. She loves to leave the house so I love to bring her everywhere, and she will help me run all the errands – I have to train her because I’m going to be moving out one of these days and she’s got to do it herself!
What do you think is the most challenging part of working for your mom?
Definitely being her child! You shouldn’t mix business with family…ever! She just drives me insane because I can’t say “no” because she’s my mom. So I will literally do anything that she asks me to do, and she has such high demands, like if her Starbucks coffee isn’t exactly how she wants it she just freaks out.
What’s the best piece of advice Kim ever gave you?
Probably to read the book Why Men Love Bitches. It really taught me how to have self-respect and self-worth. I feel like if anyone doesn’t have a mom in their life, that’s a good book to go to.
At the end of last season we got a peek of Michael on the show, will we be seeing a lot more of him this season?
You’re definitely going to be seeing a lot more of Michael this season, he filmed with me as much as he could. Last season you just got to meet him, this season you’ll get to understand him.
How is he? Is he a natural on camera?
He’s actually really good. He’s super shy and he’s not used to being [in front of] the camera unless he’s being an athlete, so I was super surprised that he adapted so well and got into being on TV so easily.
You guys have been dating long-distance for a while now, do you have any tips for how you make that work?
I think communication really helps. You just have to make time to call each other and text each other and talk about how your day was and work out the problems since we’re not living near each other. I can’t just drive to his house if he pisses me off. You just have to try a little harder, but it definitely isn’t work between us, it’s just super natural.
Did you ever imagine yourself dating a pro athlete like your mom?
No! I never thought I would ever date an athlete just because I know how they are, but Michael is so different. He’s a lot like Kroy – they’re [both] just really well-rounded people. They’re so sweet, they’re not like your typical athletes. They’re all about work and their families.
Kroy was actually just saying in an interview that Michael is such a great influence on you. How do you think he’s changed you?
Oh, Kroy said that? I had no idea. I think that Michael keeps me grounded for sure, he definitely came from super humble beginnings, just like Kroy, so he’s always keeping me level-headed, [like] telling me that not every restaurant we go to needs to be expensive. You know? Things like that. He tells me to experience life more and not focus on the little things.
You said last year that if Michael proposed, you’d say yes. Have you guys talked about kids and marriage?
Yeah, we do all the time. We have basically since we started dating. We both think that I need to move out first!
Are you close to moving out now?
You’ll see a lot of that this season on Don’t Be Tardy. We talk to Kim and Kroy a lot to get their opinions and you’ll see how all of that plays out.
One of my favourite things about you on social media is that you’ll clap back at haters. What makes you want to respond and not stay quiet like most celebrities do?
Because these people need to relax! [The haters] are just so rude and it’s so funny that they have such big opinions [while sitting] behind their computer screen. [They] don’t know me. I just think that people need to not be so negative all the time. If [these people took] the energy they put into attacking me, trying to make me feel insecure, and trying to ruin my day, and put it into something positive, the world would be such a better place.
People love your style and makeup, so what trends are you loving right now, and what do you wish would go away?
I just love “J.Lo-glam.” I just want to be glowing and be golden bronze. Just pretty and natural. And then I wish that the makeup trend of these stupid eyebrows – the squiggly ones, the braided ones, the beaded ones – would just go away. I wish it was just normal eyebrows all the time.
What are two things that are always in your bag that you couldn’t live without?
Ice Breakers Mints – I’m eating them right now! I probably go through a pack a day, I’m not even kidding, it’s like an addiction. And then [another thing] is my NARS lip gloss; like I need that on me all the times. Turkish Delight is my favourite colour.
One last question Tardy for the Party is such a great party anthem, would you ever consider releasing a single yourself?
Oh lord – no, I don’t think so! I’ll just leave that to my mom. I’ll write songs all day long, but I’m not a singer at all!
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