Phaedra Parks Says She Wants to BringReal Housewives of Atlanta'Back to Its Heyday' (Exclusive)

Mar. 15, 2025

Phaedra Parks at the Kelli Ferrell Live Cooking Demo & Pop-Up Shop on Aug. 6 in Atlanta, Georgia.Photo:Paras Griffin/Getty

Paras Griffin/Getty

Phaedra Parkssays returning toThe Real Housewives of Atlantahas been “a real welcome home feeling.“The reality star, 50, revealed in July that she’d once again be holding a peach for the hit bravo franchise’s upcoming sixteenth season. And while fans long wanted her to come back to the series that made her a household name, she was waiting for the right time.“They called and I answered,” Parks, 50, tells PEOPLE when asked about her return during a conversation abouther new IT Cosmetics “Keep It Real” campaign.“We were the No. 1 franchise ofHousewivesand I was a part of making that franchise a successful franchise. And I would love to bring the franchise come back to its heyday,” she adds.Parks went on to explain that she was excited to reunite with friend Porsha Williams on the show, who coincidentally also returned toRHOAthis season after a brief absence. “Of course, I love Porsha,” Parks said. “We are the original frick and frack.“Phaedra Parks, Mike Cunningham, Brit Eady, Cynthia Bailey and Porsha Williams at the Charles Oakley Foundation black tie gala on Aug. 16.Prince Williams/WireImageWilliams was with Parks on Friday, Aug. 16, at a black-tie fundraising gala for theCharles Oakley Foundation. The event is rumored to have been filmed forRHOA, with season 16 costarsAngela Oakley(Charles' wife),Brittany Eady,Shamea Morton Mwangi,Kelli Ferrell,Drew SidoraandCynthia Baileyall in attendance.It is unclear how much of a presence Parks will have onseason 16 ofRHOA.Her casting was announced months into filming for the new season, which officially wrapped on Monday, Aug. 19, Parks told PEOPLE.Her arrival comes after news broke thatKenya Moorewould be exciting the series,following a fallout with Eadythat led to an internal investigation.“I will say this, it’s going to be an amazing season,” Parks says, teasing what’s to come. “I mean, it will definitely be reminiscent to theHousewivesyou love originally.“Phaedra Parks in April 2024.Paul Archuleta/GettyParks first joinedRHOAin season 3, and gave birth to both of the children she shares with ex-husband Apollo Nida —sons Ayden, 14, and Dylan, 11— on the Bravo series.She departedRHOAamid controversy in season 9, after a headline-making fallout withKandi Burruss. The two former friends saw their bond fall apart when Parks admitted to spreading uncorroborated rumors that Burruss and her husbandTodd Tuckerplanned to drug Williams andShamea Morton Mwangitotake advantage of them sexually. (Burruss and Tucker have vehemently and consistently denied those claims).After appearances on several other television projects, includingMarriage Boot Camp: Hip Hop Edition, Parks dipped her toe back in theReal Housewivesuniverse in June 2022 as a cast member on Peacock’sReal Housewives Ultimate Girls Trip Ex-Wives Club.Her popularity on the show led to a triumphant return to Bravo,this time as a cast member on season 10 ofMarried to Medicine.She’ll appear on season 11, too, which recently wrapped shooting and is expected to premiere sometime this year.Phaedra Parks on ‘The Traitors’.Euan Cherry/PEACOCK via GettyNever miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.Viewers also got to know Parks on season 2 of Peacock’s hit competition series,The Traitors.The seriesis up for four 2024 Emmy Awardsnext month, including outstanding reality competition program and outstanding host for a reality series for hostAlan Cumming.Season 16 ofThe Real Housewives of Atlantadoes not have a premiere date yet. Previous seasons can be streamed on Peacock.

Phaedra Parkssays returning toThe Real Housewives of Atlantahas been “a real welcome home feeling.”

The reality star, 50, revealed in July that she’d once again be holding a peach for the hit bravo franchise’s upcoming sixteenth season. And while fans long wanted her to come back to the series that made her a household name, she was waiting for the right time.

“They called and I answered,” Parks, 50, tells PEOPLE when asked about her return during a conversation abouther new IT Cosmetics “Keep It Real” campaign.

“We were the No. 1 franchise ofHousewivesand I was a part of making that franchise a successful franchise. And I would love to bring the franchise come back to its heyday,” she adds.

Parks went on to explain that she was excited to reunite with friend Porsha Williams on the show, who coincidentally also returned toRHOAthis season after a brief absence. “Of course, I love Porsha,” Parks said. “We are the original frick and frack.”

Phaedra Parks, Mike Cunningham, Brit Eady, Cynthia Bailey and Porsha Williams at the Charles Oakley Foundation black tie gala on Aug. 16.Prince Williams/WireImage

Prince Williams/WireImage

Williams was with Parks on Friday, Aug. 16, at a black-tie fundraising gala for theCharles Oakley Foundation. The event is rumored to have been filmed forRHOA, with season 16 costarsAngela Oakley(Charles' wife),Brittany Eady,Shamea Morton Mwangi,Kelli Ferrell,Drew SidoraandCynthia Baileyall in attendance.

It is unclear how much of a presence Parks will have onseason 16 ofRHOA.Her casting was announced months into filming for the new season, which officially wrapped on Monday, Aug. 19, Parks told PEOPLE.

Her arrival comes after news broke thatKenya Moorewould be exciting the series,following a fallout with Eadythat led to an internal investigation.

“I will say this, it’s going to be an amazing season,” Parks says, teasing what’s to come. “I mean, it will definitely be reminiscent to theHousewivesyou love originally.”

Phaedra Parks in April 2024.Paul Archuleta/Getty

Paul Archuleta/Getty

Parks first joinedRHOAin season 3, and gave birth to both of the children she shares with ex-husband Apollo Nida —sons Ayden, 14, and Dylan, 11— on the Bravo series.

She departedRHOAamid controversy in season 9, after a headline-making fallout withKandi Burruss. The two former friends saw their bond fall apart when Parks admitted to spreading uncorroborated rumors that Burruss and her husbandTodd Tuckerplanned to drug Williams andShamea Morton Mwangitotake advantage of them sexually. (Burruss and Tucker have vehemently and consistently denied those claims).

After appearances on several other television projects, includingMarriage Boot Camp: Hip Hop Edition, Parks dipped her toe back in theReal Housewivesuniverse in June 2022 as a cast member on Peacock’sReal Housewives Ultimate Girls Trip Ex-Wives Club.

Her popularity on the show led to a triumphant return to Bravo,this time as a cast member on season 10 ofMarried to Medicine.She’ll appear on season 11, too, which recently wrapped shooting and is expected to premiere sometime this year.

Phaedra Parks on ‘The Traitors’.Euan Cherry/PEACOCK via Getty

Euan Cherry/PEACOCK via Getty

Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

Viewers also got to know Parks on season 2 of Peacock’s hit competition series,The Traitors.

The seriesis up for four 2024 Emmy Awardsnext month, including outstanding reality competition program and outstanding host for a reality series for hostAlan Cumming.

Season 16 ofThe Real Housewives of Atlantadoes not have a premiere date yet. Previous seasons can be streamed on Peacock.

source: people.com