Lifetime’s ‘Little Women Atlanta” returns for a sixth season on Friday with an unfortunate cloud hanging over the show’s head: the unforeseen death of original cast member Ashley “Minnie” Ross in a head-on car crash last April.
The show began shooting before the pandemic, then returns with the cast reeling from Minnie’s death. So, Minnie will be seen for a few episodes before her death.
“We’re still living” her death, said Ms. Juicy in an interview with The Atlanta Journal-Constitution Wednesday to promote the show. “It’s not something we’re going to get over. We have to relive it every time we think about it.”
Ms. Juicy, whose real name is Shirlene King Pearson, over the years has had her share of arguments with Minnie. But she said there was always love in the end.
“We can argue one day and laugh the next day,” she said, likening their relationship as clashing sisters.
Juicy will always remember Minnie’s vibrant personality. “Her smile lights up the room,” she said. “A lot of times, when she was going through things, you’d never know it because of how her personality is, how it shined. She was also someone who when she wanted something, she’d go get it. I’ll never forget her determination.”
Juicy, a long-time presence on the Rickey Smiley morning show, left that syndicated radio show after 13 years. Smiley’s show is now based in Dallas.
Reec (pronounced Reese), a former midday host at Hot 107.9, started his own midday radio show and invited Juicy to be his co-host. It runs from noon to 2 p.m. daily as a livestream on Facebook, RokuTV, AppleTV and YouTube.
Juicy said Reec was one of the first people she met when she moved to Atlanta from her home state of Texas. They would work community events together and she was flattered when he asked her to join him.
During the pandemic shooting break, she focused on building her T-shirt and sunglasses line.
The trailer features a big fight at the launch party of her shade line. “It’s very intense,” she said.
She said she has enjoyed doing “Little Women Atlanta” over the years. It has enabled her to grow her own brand. She has also become politically and socially active. The Black Lives Matter protests will be addressed this season. And she has rubbed shoulders with Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms and Stacey Abrams.
Juicy also appreciates how the other cast members have matured.
“We’ve collectively come on our own,” she said. “The girls are motivated now. They’ll tell you what they want out of life. You’ll get to see that. I really appreciate Lifetime allowing us to educate other people about dwarfism. A lot of people just didn’t know much about it.”
HOW TO WATCH
“Little Women Atlanta”
9 p.m. Fridays, Lifetime, starting Jan. 22 with a two-hour special episode. Starting Jan. 29, there will be 90-minute episodes followed by a 30-minute aftershow hosted by Loni Love.
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