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Cape Town – The saying, "dynamite comes in small packages" is particularly true for the reality star, Shirlene "Ms Juicy" King Pearson.
The self-proclaimed 'Queen of Atlanta' and the rest of the Little Women are back on our screens on Lifetime (DStv 131) for the new season of the popular show.
The fifth season has undergone a revamp as the show moves slightly away from the drama and focuses more on the careers and passions of the cast.
Ashley "Minnie" Ross and the Salinas twins aka 'Tiny Twinz', are part of the returning cast while Samantha Ortiz, Tanya Harris and Tiffany ' Monie' Cashette have left the show for various reasons.
"This season challenges the girls a lot more than the other seasons," says Ms Juicy during a telephone interview.
"I am taking the girls into my world – the music and entertainment industry. They are all working on their careers, and there is a lot at stake here. And there's a competition between them."
And Ms Juicy knows a thing or two about the industry – an actress, radio personality and reality TV star - she's been in the game for 19 years.
With her extensive experience in the industry, she'll be taking on a managing and mentoring role as the women embark on their various career paths.
"I am taking on more of a leadership role this season. I just want the girls to know that this is very serious business, it's not just a hit and quit situation. I want them to get to understand this industry and how to navigate it. We don't have time for playing!"
Asked whether it's all business and no pleasure, Miss Juicy laughs and says that she likes to keep her personal life as private as possible.
THE CHEEKS, THE TINY TWINZ AND MINNIE
One of the significant changes this season is the return of Emily Fernandez and Briana Burlap aka 'The Cheeks'.
After launching their music careers in Dallas, they relocate back to Atlanta after Ms Juicy lures them back with the promise of taking them to the next level.
But they don't receive a warm welcome as they have some long-running beef with the Tiny Twinz.
"You know it started out rocky with their history with the twins. And they have a lot of history!
"But I have a reason for doing what I do. Emily and Bri have a career this time around, and they are learning to do things better. Sometimes Emily can come off a little intense. She has the attitude that she can do everything so she might resist more than the others.
"I am just trying to show them how not to throw it in anybody's face cause you never know when you might need them."
Speaking about long-running feuds on the show Ms Juicy and Minnie's love-hate relationship is the one thing that hasn't changed this season.
Who will ever forget the chicken wing saga, the restraining order, Minnie gate-crashing Miss Juicy's birthday party in season 3, and Minnie following in Miss Juicy's footsteps with a radio career.
Asked if they will ever be friends, Miss Juicy says without hesitation: "no."
"I take friendship very seriously, but I won't let friendship get in the way of me making my money. We can be associates, but no, we will never be friends."
All beef aside though, Miss Juicy hopes that this show changes people's perceptions and stereotypes about little people.
"I love this show because it teaches and informs people about who little people are. We can do everything average height people can do because we are not different; we are just different in size.
"We have to live our lives like everybody else, and it shows that we go through the same things and the same struggles as everyone else.
"But don't come out there and treat us differently because we are smaller in stature than you are. I love this show because it shows everyone that we can do everything that they can do and even better!"
WATCH THE TRAILER HERE:
Little Women: Atlanta airs Wednesdays at 19:55 on Lifetime (DStv 131)
