Season 16 of The Real Housewives of Atlanta is about to take fans on an exciting ride, mixing the perfect blend of old favorites and fresh faces. With a star-studded cast featuring fan-favorites like Porsha Williams, Cynthia Bailey, and the return of Phaedra Parks after a six-season hiatus, the new season is setting the stage for some unmissable drama. Joining the dynamic group are newcomers Shamea Morton Mwangi, Brit Eady, Kelli Ferrell, and Angela Oakley—each eager to make their mark on the franchise.

For Phaedra Parks, who returns later this season, it’s all about bringing back the energy that made RHOA the flashiest show in the franchise. “We’re trying to basically get back to what made Atlanta the flashiest of the franchise,” Parks says. “Just good, old-fashioned, fun sisterhood—drama, but also, laughs and crying. I think that’s what became missing in those past two seasons.”

This return to the essence of RHOA is a key reason why Parks chose to come back. She credits her decision, in part, to her deep connection with Porsha Williams. “I love her,” says Parks of Williams, her longtime friend and “Frick and Frack” partner. The two have been through their ups and downs over the years, but their bond remains strong. Parks also expresses excitement about working with Cynthia Bailey once again, noting their shared history of entering the show together as newbies. “I love Cynthia, and our children have grown up together. So that was a definite plus.”

Cynthia Bailey may be returning as a “friend of the Housewives” this season, focusing more on her acting career, but she’s still deeply involved in the drama. “I ended up shooting a lot more than I even thought I would, to be honest,” she admits. Bailey’s return is a welcome one, especially with her role as a steadying influence. She’s excited about the new faces on the show, particularly Shamea Morton Mwangi, who has been a long-time friend of Williams but will now get her time to shine. Bailey describes her as someone who “lives a fabulous life” and is eager for fans to get to know her more intimately.

The new cast members have already begun to make waves, with Parks praising Brit Eady as a “ball of light” and a “beautiful girl inside and out.” Bailey calls Eady a “wild card” and a “fun time.” Kelli Ferrell, who stands at just 5 feet tall, is already capturing attention as a “firecracker” in her own right. “She’s an entrepreneur, so I think that she’s going to be a great role model for women, but also she’s definitely very entertaining,” Parks says, laughing. “She’s a very loud little woman.”

Despite some initial tension with the new cast members, Williams says that the relationships have deepened over time. “Some of them, we’re going through the same situation, and so they’re very relatable,” Williams explains. She admits that while some relationships were “a little rocky” at the start, they’ve since evolved naturally as the season progressed.

As for the returning stars, Parks marks her comeback later in the season, while Bailey continues to act as a “voice of reason” for the ladies, especially Drew Sidora, who’s navigating a tough divorce. “Drew Sidora, I actually brought on the show when she entered,” Bailey recalls. “And she’s going through a divorce (from Ralph Pittman). Obviously, we were able to connect on that.”

The season will also focus on Parks’ growing family, as her two sons are now young men, following them from childhood through their entrepreneurial ventures. “I’m hoping that they will be more successful than I am,” she says of her sons, highlighting how they’ve watched her work ethic and grown from that example.

With the departure of several long-time cast members, including Kandi Burruss, Marlo Hampton, and Sanya Richards-Ross, RHOA is turning to fresh faces to inject new energy into the show. Kenya Moore’s exit also marks a significant shift in the dynamic of the cast, though the remaining women are embracing the changes. “A lot of people often talk about Season 6 being the sweet spot for Atlanta. It was something about that specific group of women, which I was a part of, that just worked,” says Bailey. “I’m excited to come back as a friend this season, to just help get the show back in that space where people really are excited to watch it again.”

Bailey is quick to point out that new faces are necessary to keep the show fresh. “Ultimately, [the show] has to be able to keep bringing a couple of new people in every season,” she says. “Otherwise, you end up with a cast where we’re just still having the same conversations and the same arguments.”

With a mix of old favorites and exciting newcomers, RHOA Season 16 promises to deliver the drama, laughs, and “good TV” that fans have been craving.