'Real Housewives of Atlanta' -- Transgender Woman Added to Cast

Producers of "The Real Housewives of Atlanta" have figured out a way to fill the shoes NeNe Leakes ... and it starts with the first transgender woman to appear on the show.

TMZ has learned ... Amiyah Scott will join the cast next season. Amiyah is a model who was born Arthur and began her transformation 10 years ago when she was 17.

Amiyah has been romantically linked to a number of rappers.

The show is also adding Kim Fields from "Facts of Life."