When we last left the belles of "The Real Housewives of Atlanta," Kim Zolciak was busy figuring out her life's mysteries. She allegedly broke up with her mystery boyfriend,  "Big Papa," on the verge of starting a music career and recovering from her multiple feuds with her castmates. Yet she's back again ready to open her life again to criticism from friends, family and complete strangers. ESSENCE.com finds out the real deal about Zolciak's relationships with the other ladies, her burgeoning singing career and whether she still loves Big Papa.

ESSENCE.COM: After all of last season's drama, are you happy to return?
KIM ZOLCIAK: I was a little leery in the beginning, but then I realized, well, I couldn't look any worse than I did last year, so what the hell do I have to lose? This is my opportunity for people to really get to know me. Last year was more like an introduction.

ESSENCE.COM: Last season the critics were less than kind about your music career and vocal ability. How's that going?
ZOLCIAK: After the humiliation I faced last year, I wasn't going in that [music] direction again. I'm not a quitter but I stopped working with Dallas [Austin]. It was really traumatic for me to go through the stuff that I did publicly. Kandi [Burruss] has become a real asset, and I got back in the music industry solely because of her. Somehow she inspired me to move forward. I didn't know her before the show, but our friendship has definitely grown. She's incredibly talented

ESSENCE.COM: So are you and Big Papa an item again?
ZOLCIAK: Oh, you'll have to watch the show to see what happens there.

ESSENCE.COM: In the previews you and Sheree nearly duke it out. Isn't that your girl?
ZOLCIAK: I think Sheree's a great person. Sometimes emotions override intelligence. That experience was extremely traumatic for me, but we've since moved past it. However, I definitely have ended some friendships and reconsidered others. I can say that NeNe and I did eventually have our glass of wine and talked about ironing out our differences.

ESSENCE.COM: Do you feel like you're a target?
ZOLCIAK: Absolutely. I feel like everybody is coming after me for one thing or the other. I live in a happy world. So when it comes to drama, I just don't deal with it. I'm constantly faced with chaos on the show and I have to do deal with it. I [believe] some people have an agenda, but I just stay true to who I am and keep moving.

Tune in to see more of Kim Zolciak on "The Real Housewives of Atlanta" (BRAVO) on Thursday, July 30, at 10 P.M. ET.