and wouldn't ya know it, there might be Kardashian clout among the contestants.

somebody in and around the Kardashian empire will be all costumed up for this season from head to toe, and if that manifests like we're hearing ...

Anyway, we know what you're thinking -- the Kardashian clan is pretty damn big, so it could literally be anybody.

She showed up last season as the Phoenix, and got the boot relatively early.