The 'Real Housewives' and 'Traitors' alum chats about 'Phaedra 2.0' and what makes her second stint as a peach holder unique.
Phaedra Parks is coming home. The beloved Bravo star is returning to The Real Housewives of Atlanta, the series that launched her years ago, after various stints on shows like Married to Medicine, The Traitors and The Real Housewives: Ultimate Girls Trip. Living through a self-described “year of yeses,” Parks is basking in the spotlight these days. Ahead of her return to RHOA next week, we caught up with Parks as a part of her latest collaboration with Cheez-It Snap’d, to break down her career thus far, and what fans can expect from her as a peach holder once more.
“This is my season,” she tell us, saying that once she decided to say yes to every opportunity, new doors opened for her. Years after her dramatic departure from The Real Housewives of Atlanta back in 2017, she has come back in full force to the reality TV landscape bigger than ever before. Her turn on The Traitors in particular helped her star rise even higher, bringing her to audiences outside of Bravo.
“From ‘The Traitors’ to going to ‘Married To Medicine’ to returning to ‘Housewives,’ those were moments I said yes to things,” she explains. “It’s just opened the doors to so many collaborations, and I’m just loving these opportunities.” Now, returning to RHOA, she teases audiences will see “Phaedra 2.0”
“I’m definitely different from who you saw 15 years go,” she explains. “I’m a better remix of myself. I’m happy, I’m not in a bad marriage, I’ve got a cute little young boyfriend that’s so tall, dark and lovely.”
She also teases the return of “Frick and Frack,” a nickname associated with her friendship with Porsha Williams. She also shouts out the newbies (Angela Oakley, Kelli Ferrell and Brit Eady), calling them “three fiery young ladies,” while also mentioning Shamea Morton and Cynthia Bailey.
“It’s a breath of fresh air,” she adds. “You’re getting nostalgia, but you’re getting it with a little ‘oomph.’”
Parks also told us all about her collaboration with Cheez-It Snap’d. The reality star teamed up with the baked chip snack, unveiling her very own Cheez-It Snap’d Back Bag. This limited-edition snack-inspired accessory is “made to dial up the drama and satisfy cravings, on screen and off.”
Parks told us that while she loves the Cheez-It brand in general, she “adores” the snap’d brand. “It’s a chip and not a cracker, it’s crispy, it’s thin…it’s delicious,” she quips. “It’s a little more classy than a regular chip!”
When describing the Snap’d Bag, she explained that it’s very useful. The bag even has one of Parks’ most viral quotes from RHOA, “Now Check That,” written on the front. “It’s big enough to put anything from your lunch to your personal items.”
The Cheez-It Snap’d Back Bag will debut on May 25 at 9 p.m. ET exclusively at CheezIt.com, and will be available while supplies last!
