EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW: Real Housewife of Atlanta NeNe Leaks: "I Was a Single Mom living in an Abusive Relationship"

Atlanta Housewife NeNe Leakes may be living the good life now with her husband Gregg and two sons, but years ago it was a different story.

In an exclusive interview with RadarOnline.com, NeNe reveals what life was like raising her oldest son Brice, now 19, as a young single mom and dealing with an abusive relationship.

"I wanted my son to have a father because I grew up without a father," she told RadarOnline.com at the book signing for her book Never Make the Same Mistake Twice at Eso Won Bookstore in LA's Leimert Park neighborhood September 10.

"I continued to be in an abusive relationship because of that. But I want people to know that you can make it through that. I made it through, and I hope my book will inspire people."

Click Here For On Her Battles With Costar Kim Zolciak

These days, NeNe is doing ok. In fact she's doing more than ok, and she knows it!

"Back in the day I didn't have money and I had to work to support my son. That was before I was independent...that was before I became a gold digger!" she joked. "Actually I just found a man with some gold."