Phaedra Parks Says She Wants to Bring RHOA 'Back to Its Heyday'

Phaedra Parks says returning to The Real Housewives of Atlanta has been "a real welcome home feeling."

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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 about her new IT Cosmetics “Keep It Real” campaign.

"We were the No. 1 franchise of Housewives and 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 to RHOA this season after a brief absence. "Of course, I love Porsha," Parks said. "We are the original frick and frack."

Williams was with Parks on Friday, Aug. 16, at a black-tie fundraising gala for the Charles Oakley Foundation. The event is rumored to have been filmed for RHOA, with season 16 costars Angela Oakley (Charles' wife), Brittany Eady, Shamea Morton Mwangi, Kelli Ferrell, Drew Sidora and Cynthia Bailey all in attendance.

It is unclear how much of a presence Parks will have on season 16 of RHOA. 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 that Kenya Moore would be exciting the series, following a fallout with Eady that 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 the Housewives you love originally."

Parks first joined RHOA in 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 departed RHOA amid controversy in season 9, after a headline-making fallout with Kandi Burruss. The two former friends saw their bond fall apart when Parks admitted to spreading uncorroborated rumors that Burruss and her husband Todd Tucker planned to drug Williams and Shamea Morton Mwangi to take advantage of them sexually. (Burruss and Tucker have vehemently and consistently denied those claims).

After appearances on several other television projects, including Marriage Boot Camp: Hip Hop Edition, Parks dipped her toe back in the Real Housewives universe in June 2022 as a cast member on Peacock's Real 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 of Married to Medicine. She'll appear on season 11, too, which recently wrapped shooting and is expected to premiere sometime this year.

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

The series is up for four 2024 Emmy Awards next month, including outstanding reality competition program and outstanding host for a reality series for host Alan Cumming.

Season 16 of The Real Housewives of Atlanta does not have a premiere date yet. Previous seasons can be streamed on Peacock.