Phaedra Parks’ star continues to shine brightly in the Bravo-verse.
The “Real Housewives of Atlanta” alum, 50, reveals on Pvnew’s “Virtual Reali-Tea” podcast why she joined the cast of “Married to Medicine” instead of making a cross-franchise jump to “The Real Housewives of Dubai.”
“I love that cast. I’ve got great friends over there and I mean, I think it has the potential to be a great show,” Parks says of “RHODubai.”
“But at the end of the day, of course, my roots are always going to be in Atlanta,” she continues, noting that “Married to Medicine” is filmed in the Southern city. “And I’ve got two wonderful sons who are in school here.”
The Georgia native — who shares sons Ayden, 13, and Dylan, 10, with ex-husband Apollo Nida — previously teased that a role on “RHODubai” was possible, given her strong friendship with cast member Caroline Brooks and her business dealings in the Middle East.
“Dubai is definitely a different world from here and a long ways away from Atlanta,” she says of her decision to join “Married to Medicine.”
“So when this opportunity came up, it was a better fit for my family,” added the mom of two.
Parks — who departed “RHOA” in 2017 after seven consecutive seasons — has remained a fan-favorite who Bravo frequently relies on to deliver good TV.
While viewers will take her quick wit and world-class shade in any format, the “Secrets of the Southern Belle” author’s entry into the “Married to Medicine” world feels like a natural fit as she’s been close with the majority of of the show’s current cast for years.
In January, sources told Pvnew that the ladies of “Married to Medicine” were imploring her to sign on the dotted line.
“They’re all really good friends with her and begging her, ‘Please, please come do the show,’” one insider shared at the time. “And she adores all of those women, so she is definitely considering this.”
Parks is happy she ultimately obliged. “It’s a blessing to be able to reinvent yourself and to evolve, so I’m grateful to be here at this moment,” she tells us. “It’s a great place to be in.”
Four years after exiting “RHOA,” Parks joined the cast of Peacock’s “The Real Housewives Ultimate Girls Trip: Ex-Wives Club” at Dorinda Medley’s Berkshires estate. In January, she filmed a second installment in Morocco, which is slated to air in 2024.
Sprinkled in was a cameo in 2022’s Season 1 of “Dubai” and, later, a chance for the outspoken attorney-turned-mortician to shake up the “Married to Medicine” cast. Additionally, she will appear on Season 2 of Peacock’s reality competition series “The Traitors,” which recently wrapped filming in Scotland.
“I’m happy that I’m back,” she tells us. “I’m happy that people obviously have missed me and I’m happy that I’ve had so many opportunities.”
Parks — who was dating a pediatric cardiologist when cameras went up this year for “Married to Medicine” Season 10 — is sure fans will see her pop up on “Dubai” down the line, though a full-time position now seems unlikely.
“I love the ladies of ‘Dubai’ and I’m sure you will still see me over there from time to time,” she assures us, “but Atlanta’s definitely home.”
“Married to Medicine” — also starring Dr. Heavenly Kimes, Dr. Jackie Walters, Dr. Simone Whitmore, Toya Bush-Harris, Quad Webb, Lateasha Lunceford and “friend of” the cast Dr. Alicia Egolum — returns to Bravo Sunday, Nov. 5, at 9 p.m. ET.
