Fairmont Crest is about to get a whole lot more Atlanta. Kandi Burruss and Tabitha Brown are guest starring on CBS’s Beyond the Gates, and their first episode airs this Thursday, Oct. 22.
Who They’re Playing
Kandi steps in as Kalista Kilroy, the first modeling agent of Dani Dupree (Karla Mosley). Tabitha plays Tia Allen, host of a “Welcome to Your Life” TV special that Dani’s best friend Pamela Curtis (Cady McClain) puts together in her honor.
On paper it’s a celebration, with Dani’s parents, sister and daughters all on hand. But according to Soap Opera Network, a few surprise guests (Kalista among them) turn the tribute into an awkward stroll down memory lane. Complex reports that the fallout lands on Naomi (Arielle Prepetit), Chelsea (RhonniRose Mantilla) and Andre (Sean Freeman). You know how soaps do: nobody shows up to a party in Fairmont Crest without a little history in tow.
The episode airs weekdays at 2 p.m. ET / 1 p.m. PT on CBS and streams on Paramount+.
A Hometown Booking
Here’s the part we love. Beyond the Gates is set in a wealthy Black enclave in suburban Maryland, but the show is actually filmed right here at Assembly Studios in Doraville. So the RHOA legend and multi-hyphenate mogul didn’t have to travel far for this one.
It’s also a little reunion. Both women have appeared on Showtime’s The Chi: Kandi played Roselyn Perry across several seasons, and Tabitha had a guest turn as Octavia. And they’re in good company. The soap has already welcomed Bravo faces like Karen Huger, Gizelle Bryant and Dr. Wendy Osefo from the Potomac franchise.
Created by showrunner Michele Val Jean and produced by CBS Studios with the NAACP and Procter & Gamble Studios, Beyond the Gates premiered in February 2025. CBS has since renewed it through the 2027–28 season, which makes it one of the brightest spots in daytime TV.
Kandi has kept busy on and off screen lately. Catch up on the other side of her story in our Jordan With The Juice sit-down with Todd Tucker.
Why it matters: A Black-led daily soap that films in metro Atlanta keeps booking our own reality and culture stars, and that means more work, more visibility and more of our faces in daytime TV for the long haul.
Will you be tuning in Thursday? Join the conversation with N’Style Insider, or lock in your spot as one of The 800 founding members.
Sources: Soap Opera Network, Complex, theGrio, Beyond the Gates (Wikipedia)
