Fans likely expected Next Gen NYC - with Real Housewives kids making up half the cast - to deliver drama, shade and a touch of spoiled energy. But instead, the show impressed Us with the enviable and real bond between Riley Burruss and Ariana Biermann, who reconnected for the first time since their moms, Kandi Burruss and Kim Zolciak, famously fell out on The Real Housewives of Atlanta when the girls were just 10. The friendship, among other things, landed them a spot in Us Weekly's Reality Star of the Year issue. "I'm so happy we can show the world that it doesn't matter when you stop being somebody's friend or what happens between your families - you can still pick up and have a friendship outside of all the bulls***," Ariana, 24, tells Us. Filming Next Gen NYC, the two just clicked. "I was nervous, but we spent the day together, even outside of the cameras," Riley, 23, recalls in a separate interview with Us. "We became best friends in two hours." Ariana shares a similar recollection of their initial meetup. "You don't see somebody for almost 11, 10 years. How are you supposed to know if you're going to get along again or if you guys are the same people?" she ponders. "Even though we both grew up in Georgia, it was in two different places. She's lived in New York for four years [already]. I was really nervous and hesitant. ... We really picked like no time had passed. We hung out all day for the next three days." Ariana Biermann Through the Years: From 'RHOA' to 'Next Gen NYC' While their friendship was a key reason why fans tuned in, Riley and Ariana made individual impacts as well. Riley had one of the show's most powerful moments when she called out costar Charlie Zakkour for a microaggression. "I think the thing I'm most proud of is how well I articulated myself [throughout the whole season]," she tells Us. "At first, I thought that I didn't do as great. In the moment, you're emotional, you're not really realizing how it's going." Riley later learned the weight of her words from one fan. "She [felt] really proud as a Black woman, seeing another Black woman speak in a very nice way about all the things [she'd gone] through," she tells Us. While the Real Housewives franchise always gives glimpses into the wives' relationships with their kids, Ariana had more experience in front of the camera under her belt with the Zolciak-Biermann family appearing on eight seasons of Don't Be Tardy, which she admits she wasn't always thrilled about filming. Riley Burruss and Ariana Biermann Bronson Farr/Bravo (2) "Growing up, I was at one point like, 'I don't want to do this. I just want to be in high school. I just want to live.' There was definitely a long phase of that," Ariana recalls, adding that she felt like she was "required" to film (with little to no pay) while navigating the judgment that came with it. "When you're growing up and going through those hard teenage years, it can be hard when people are giving you so much s*** and critiquing every single thing that you do. That got to be a lot for me at one point, but I learned a lot, and it made me who I am today. So not wanting to do it and then going on my own show, it's kind of ironic." Ariana may be the only member of her family still actively on Bravo, but her parents, Kim and Kroy Biermann, are often in the headlines for their messy divorce. On Next Gen, Ariana added to the chatter when revealing her parents spent the money she had earned on brand deals as a teenager. "People really crave authenticity," she says. "Viewers have reached out to me and spoken about similar situations that they've been in with their family. I love to hear their stories and talk with them. They'll say, 'Thank you so much for sharing this,' or 'It really gave me a different perspective on my situation with my family.'" Ariana maintains a close relationship with Kim. "People want to say [Housewives kids] are so bratty - and I can't speak for everybody - but some people think we're very not appreciative of the things that we have. I say, 'No, I wouldn't be doing Next Gen if it wasn't for my mom,'" she tells Us. "I'm so blessed that my mom has set up this job for me since I was 5 years old." In fact, both Ariana and Riley are close with their moms, seemingly unbothered by answering repetitive questions about what the former Housewives taught them about reality TV, how they feel about the show, etc. "I'm following my mom's footsteps, and I'm glad that I can make an impact somewhere," Riley says. "I feel like I navigated my own path. She told me, 'Just be yourself, be honest, be real and just figure out what you want to do [in real-time]. As long as you're honest, you will be OK - don't lie about anything.'" Next Gen NYC's Riley Burruss and Ariana Biermann Discuss Their Moms' Feud Despite their differences, Kim gave similar advice as Kandi - with an extra warning for caution. "My mom has always stayed very true to who she is. Everyone will tell you she's the same person she was 20 yea