Keisha Knight Pulliam, the actress many affectionately know as “Rudy” from the Cosby Show, is the newest addition to the cast of The Real Housewives of Atlanta.

[READ: Season 5 Cast Update: Kenya Moore Switches Teams – Marlo Hampton’s Peach Status]

Rumors swirled earlier this year that Keisha would be joining the cast when she made a cameo on the show alongside Nene Leakes, but Keisha soon put the rumor to bed, even going so far as to dispute it on a radio show.

While she may have been telling the truth AT THAT TIME, it appears that things have definitely changed!

details below:

When the rumors initially surfaced, I dismissed them. Hell… Keisha’s not a “wife” and I don’t even think she has a full time boo.

Having graduation from Atlanta’s HBCU Spelman College, Keisha’s definitely an ATLien with business skills. So she gets my vote… husband or not.

In addition to working on several Tyler Perry projects, most specifically ‘House of Payne,’ Keisha launched KAMP KIZZY, a summer day camp program girls ages 11 to 16 years old.

According to the Kamp Kizzy site:

Keshia has been a role model for generations of young girls. Her continued public presence both on and off the big screen has given her the platform to influence all those who see her. Recognizing the absence of positive imagery of young girls for young girls, Keshia felt compelled to establish a non-profit foundation such as Kamp Kizzy to empower their spirits. Having attended both Foxcroft, an all girls boarding school in Middleburg, Virginia and the prestigious Spelman College in Atlanta, GA she knows first hand the gravity a positive women can have on the life of a young girl.

Taking the hands on approach to improving her community from her years as a Bonner Scholar to volunteering at Hosea Feed the Hungry, service is something that has long been close to Keshia’s heart. She has consistently donated to numerous community service foundations in various facets (rather by time, celebrity, monetarily, or goods.) With the development of Kamp Kizzy Keshia has made a commitment to remain an active participant in the lives of young girls.

I’m sure Keisha’s getting a huge chunk of change but being that she is such an accomplished actress and businesswoman, is it really a smart move to attach herself to a “reality” show? Hmmm…. well at least we know she’ll bring a bit of positivity to the cast.

Oooooh…. now I get it! *epiphany*

We have Kenya Moore for the “drama” and Keisha Knight Pulliam to balance it all out. Woooow…. smart move Bravo… smart move!

According to my sources, Keisha has been filming with the cast of the show for several weeks now.

I also heard that the official season 5 cast photo for The Real housewives of Atlanta should be released pretty soon as well, since Keyshia’s addition to the show rounds out the cast.

So if my intel is correct, the Season 5 cast is as follows:

Nene Leakes, Phaedra Parks, Cynthia Bailey, Kandi Burruss, Kenya Moore, Keisha Knight Pulliam and Kim Zolciak, who will still be taping, but in a limited capacity due to her pregnancy. (It’s my hope that they go ahead and lose the token White chick, but that’s just me.)

And since Kenya Moore has been spotted hanging out with Phaedra & Kandi, it would seem that Bravo may have finally disbanded all that dumb Talls vs. Smalls mess.

Stay tuned…

How do you think Keisha will fare as an Atlanta “Housewife”?

Update #06/20/12 – Keisha is still denying that she’s joining the cast, but my sources confirm she’s been taping. I inquired via Twitter but I honestly don’t expect an answer since traditionally new cast members are never confirmed until the show airs.

Stay tuned…

[Photos: Rob Ector/Twitter/Bravo]