The Real Housewives of Atlanta's Phaedra Parks is making her big return to RHOA Season 16 very soon.
Phaedra Parks' return to The Real Housewives of Atlanta is happening very soon. The entrepreneur, lawyer, and mom of two has not yet made her return to RHOA Season 16 in the first four episodes. But, when she does make her first appearance of the season, it's going to be major — get all the details down below.
Phaedra first announced that she would be returning to RHOA for Season 16 last summer after being a cast member on Married to Medicine Seasons 10 and 11. The mortician took to Instagram at the time, where she posted a series of photos of her holding a peach while standing on stairs, leading up to a private plane. "You called. I answered," she wrote in the caption of the post.
In the months since then, Phaedra has teased whats to come from her big return and how fitting in with the Season 16 cast went for her. "It went absolutely awesome," she told E! News in September 2024. "I felt like I was back home."
Phaedra Parks dishes on upcoming "fun" moments with Porsha Williams
It certainly helped that Phaedra's friend, Porsha Williams, joined the cast of RHOA Season 16 after appearing on RHOA from Seasons 5 to 13. This was major for Phaedra, who is very close to Porsha, and have lovingly referred to their friendship as "Frick and Frack."
"When Frick and Frack is back, honey, it's gonna be some fun," she noted. "It's definitely going to be very spicy, but it's going to be some fun, too."
She reiterated this in a conversation with Entertainment Tonight in March. "I love Porsha — Frick and Frack is back — so I'm super excited," she noted. "The new ladies are absolutely amazing, so it's gonna be fun. It's going back to basics of what made us the flagship show, so we're coming back. We're coming back for the real peach."
Phaedra was also glad that she could be on hand to shake things up. "I think bringing back some new energy, it's gonna shake it up, but in a good way. In a positive way," she told E! News.
When did Phaedra Parks leave RHOA?
Phaedra had previously appeared on RHOA as a full-time cast member between Season 3 through Season 9. RHOA viewers got a close up look at her life over the six seasons, watching as she gave birth to her sons, Dylan Nida and Ayden Nida, while she navigated her relationship to her now ex-husband, Apollo Nida.
Andy Cohen teases Phaedra Parks' return to RHOA
Phaedra wasn't the only person who was excited about her return to RHOA — Andy Cohen was super excited, too. In an interview with The Daily Dish in December, Andy explained why he was so excited about RHOA Season 16. "I think people have been waiting a long time to see what we've done. We've got great new housewives," he explained. "We've got the return of Porsha, we've got the return of Phaedra. Shamea [Morton Mwangi] is a full housewife. I mean, she's someone that we've been seeing for years and years, but seeing her in this way is totally a breath of fresh air."
During a March 16 episode of Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen, Andy continued to tease Phaedra's return. "Well, I gotta tell you, by the way, I'm watching [The Real Housewives of] Atlanta, way ahead of it, and it's very fun when [Phaedra] joins your group, I have to say," he told Shamea, who was a guest on the show and agreed with Andy's statement.
How the RHOA cast feels about Phaedra Parks' return
Porsha Williams shares how Phaedra Parks brings energy to RHOA
Shamea isn't the only one who was excited about Phaedra's return. Porsha had also expressed her excitement for her "Frack" coming back to RHOA with her. Although Porsha wanted Phaedra "back day one of filming," she was "glad when she finally did come back," she explained to Deadline in November. "It's always fun, it's always light-hearted."
"As dark as life can be sometimes, you need to have that light and Frick and Frack is always going to bring the good times," she continued. "We're always going to come in and laugh at what shouldn't be laughed at, and enjoy the good things in life, and not concentrate on the bad. I just love that she's back."
Cynthia Bailey shares how Phaedra Parks made an impression on RHOA Season 16
RHOA Season 16 friend Cynthia Bailey told People in November that Phaedra made a serious impression during her return on RHOA.
"I will say Phaedra definitely did her thing," she noted. "The season finale...this is her season."
During the Bravo Fan Feud panel at Bravo Fan Fest in Miami in November 2024, Cynthia also shared, "Phaedra is completely funny and crazy as well... Phaedra, she came back...she was totally activated."
Inside Phaedra Parks' life today ahead of her RHOA return
Phaedra has been incredibly busy ahead of her big return to RHOA. Not only has Phaedra been focusing on her flourishing career as a mortician, but she's been co-parenting her two sons with Apollo, and dating a new man in her life, all while appearing on other Bravo and Peacock shows.
After leaving RHOA Season 9, Phaedra went on to appear on The Real Housewives Ultimate Girls Trip Season 2, Married to Medicine Seasons 10 and 11, and even competed on The Traitors Season 2. She also made a very brief appearance on The Real Housewives of Dubai Season 1 when she traveled to Dubai to catch up with RHODubai cast member Caroline Brooks.
During a January 2024 appearance on WWHL, Phaedra admitted that co-parenting with Apollo is "going great." She noted that Apollo typically takes the boys "for the weekends" while the kids typically stay with her full time. "He likes to take them," she said.
She has also put some attention on to her own love life, and has started dating again. In January, Phaedra chatted about her new man with E! News. "I'm just having fun," she said. "It's nothing so serious and I don't know if I'll ever be serious. Maybe there's another man out there for me. I'm an equal opportunity employer."
Learn more about Phaedra's "delicious" new relationship and see what else she had to say about it.
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