Real Housewives of Atlanta viewers know the show's co-star, NeNe Leakes, is not shy about discussing her previous life as a stripper; but in a new tell-all interview titled, E! Entertainment Sepcial: NeNe Leakes, she bares more than she ever has in the past.

The Glee actress opened up to Giuliana Rancic about her very first night as an exotic dancer and what kept her hooked.

"I remember going home and having something like $1,000 and thinking 'I made $1,000 in one night. Baby we are doing this tomorrow night.' Like it became an addiction."

Leakes also opened up to Rancic about being a victim of domestic violence. She discussed her breaking point and the moment she realized she could not stay in the situation any longer.

"He'd been calling and calling. I would never answer the call, so he knocked on our door and came -- just bust right on in."

While many fans know that Leakes' aunt and uncle raised her, she shared that she went into their care after her mother's attempts to abandon her and her siblings.

Her aunt asked her mother, "Can you bring them to me in Georgia because I'm hearing that you're dropping them off in different places and I don't want that for them and I want to help you."

Leakes said her mother then took her to her aunt's home in Athens, Ga. and never returned.

While she is an extremely popular reality star, Leakes said there is a downside to her life being an open book on television.

"The hardest part about me doing this show and having my life put out there is my child. My oldest son was going into 12th grade and he could no longer be like the typical teenager."

Still, with all of her experiences, Leakes is happy to be considered a role model and "proud to represent the strong Black woman."

She also dished on what really happened when she and Gregg decided to get divorced, only to remarry again, and going after her Hollywood dreams.

The special airs on E! Mon. Dec. 16 at 10/9c.

Tags
The Real Housewives of Atlanta Season 6, Nene Leakes