NeNe Leakes, the "Real Housewives of Atlanta" star turned clothing designer, is among the frontrunners to replace Joan Rivers on E!'s "Fashion Police,"
celebrity blogger Perez Hilton reported last week.
"We have exclusively learned that NeNe Leakes is . . . a frontrunner for the gig not only because she has started her own clothing line, is definitely one of Atlanta's fashionistas, is opinionated, and has serious comedic timing, but also because E! is looking to diversify their panel with a different ethnicity," PerezHilton.com wrote.
Leakes joins other "Fashion Police" candidates like comedians Kathy Griffin, Lisa Lampanelli, and Amy Schumer.
"On the other side, while Kathy is obvi HIGHlarious, she doesn't necessarily have the fashion background, which is why other ladies are also being considered even though they aren't as high on the list as these two," Hilton continued.
The E! Network revealed last week that "Fashion Police" will continue on without its star, the
late Rivers, according to CBS News.
"We have also thought long and hard about what Joan would have wanted as it pertains to the future of 'Fashion Police,'" the network said in a statement. "We decided, with Melissa Rivers' blessing, that Joan would have wanted the franchise to continue. 'Fashion Police' will return in 2015 commencing with Golden Globes coverage on Monday, Jan. 12. No further details will be announced at this time."
A source told The Hollywood Reporter last week that Melissa Rivers will serve as executive producer for the show, adding that, while no one has entered into serious conversations, Griffin was the only name really under "serious consideration."
But Griffin appeared to distance herself from the job rumors as recently as last week with a Twitter post.
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