{{Short description|American television personality and attorney (b. 1973)}} {{Infobox person | name = Phaedra Parks | image = PhaedraParks2018.png | image_upright = .7 | caption = Parks in 2018 | birth_name = Phaedra Creonta Parks | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1973|10|26}} | birth_place = Athens, Georgia, U.S. | education = Wesleyan College (BA)<br>University of Georgia (JD) | occupation = {{hlist|Attorney|legal analyst|television personality|businesswoman|author|actress}} | known_for = {{ubl|Attorney to Bobby Brown|''The Real Housewives of Atlanta'' (2010–2017, 2024–present)}} | years_active = 2001–present | spouse = {{marriage|Apollo Nida|2009|2017|reason=divorced}} | children = 2 }}
'''Phaedra Creonta Parks''' (born October 26, 1973) is an American attorney, legal analyst, television personality, author, activist, and businesswoman.
Parks is best known for appearances on reality television, including, Bravo's ''The Real Housewives of Atlanta'' (2010–2017; 2024–present), Peacock's ''The Real Housewives Ultimate Girls Trip'' (2022; 2024), ''Married to Medicine'' (2023–2024) In 2024, and ''The Traitors'' (2024).<ref>{{cite magazine |last1=Yandoli |first1=Krystie Lee |title=Phaedra Parks Knows Exactly Why She's the Breakout Star of 'The Traitors' |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/tv-movies/tv-movie-features/phaedra-parks-the-traitors-season-two-real-housewives-of-atlanta-1234969380/ |access-date=29 May 2025 |magazine=Rolling Stone |date=16 February 2024}}</ref>
==Early life== Parks was born in Athens, Georgia. She is one of four children to pastor parents Regina Bell and Henry Parks.{{Citation needed|date=January 2022}} Parks would attend Wesleyan College, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree with honors, before continuing her studies in 1995, at the University of Georgia School of Law, where she would undertake her Juris Doctor, graduating in 1997.<ref>{{cite magazine|date=October 2007|title=Georgia Rising Stars:Super Lawyers|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=xA4AAAAAMBAJ&dq=Attorney+of+the+Year+2006+phaedra&pg=PA241|magazine=Atlanta|page=S-17|issn=0004-6701|url-access=|via=Google Books}}</ref><ref name=":4">{{Cite web |last=Adekogbe |first=Gabby |date=September 23, 2025 |title=Phaedra Parks' legacy as a UGA School of Law alum |url=https://alumni.uga.edu/2025/09/23/phaedra-parks-legacy-as-a-uga-school-of-law-alum/ |access-date=April 27, 2026 |website=UGA Alumni |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=September 18, 2023 |title=What to Know About Phaedra Parks Before She Arrives on Married to Medicine Season 10 |url=https://www.bravotv.com/the-daily-dish/what-to-know-about-phaedra-parks-married-to-medicine-season-10-cast |access-date=April 27, 2026 |website=Bravo |language=en-US}}</ref>
==Career== In 2000, Parks founded her Atlanta-based law firm, The Parks Group, which specializes in intellectual property and entertainment law.<ref name=":4" /> Parks first gained recognition for her legal representation of R&B singer Bobby Brown during his strand of legal cases in the 2000s.<ref>{{Cite web |date=October 17, 2006 |title=Bobby Brown Pays Up |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/bobby-brown-pays-up/ |access-date=April 27, 2026 |website=CBS News |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Fee |first=Gayle |date=October 21, 2010 |title=Phaedra Parks stirs up 'Housewives' |url=https://www.bostonherald.com/2010/10/21/phaedra-parks-stirs-up-housewives/ |access-date=April 27, 2026 |website=Boston Herald |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|last=Mills|first=Don|date=2006-10-04|title=Bobby Brown: very busy|page=B2|work=National Post}}</ref> She's also represented producer Jazze Pha, songwriter Jermaine Dupri, and rapper Too Short.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Woodall |first=Angela |date=July 11, 2008 |title=Rapper Too Short could lose recording studio |url=https://www.eastbaytimes.com/2008/07/11/rapper-too-short-could-lose-recording-studio-2/ |access-date=April 27, 2026 |website=East Bay Times |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=October 8, 2010 |title=Another Real 'House'wife – Welcome Phaedra Parks to the Neighborhood |url=https://abovethelaw.com/2010/10/another-real-housewife-welcome-phaedra-parks-to-the-neighborhood-draft/ |access-date=April 27, 2026 |website=Above the Law}}</ref><ref name=":2">{{Cite web|last=Takeda|first=Allison|date=2013-04-03|title=Real Housewives of Atlanta's Phaedra Parks Gets Her Own Spinoff Show|url=https://www.usmagazine.com/entertainment/news/phaedra-parks-of-the-real-housewives-of-atlanta-gets-her-own-spinoff-show-rich-peoples-problems-201334/|access-date=2022-01-11|website=Us Weekly|language=en-US}}</ref> Parks has served on Georgia's Law School Alumni Council,<ref name=":3">{{Cite news|date=2010-10-17|title=Phaedra Parks; Phaedra Parks Is in Hot Demand|work=Entertainment News Weekly|via=Factiva}}</ref> the Grammy Recording Board, UGA Law School Board, and G-Capp.{{Citation needed|date=January 2022}} She has served as a legal analyst on shows like Fox News, CNN, NBC regarding the Michael Jackson trial. Parks has also acted as a television producer for BET's ''The Tiny and Toya Show''.<ref name=":3"/> In December 2016, Parks was named Atlanta's most popular lawyer by the Fulton County District Attorney Paul Howard.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Vena |first=Jocelyn |date=December 22, 2016 |title=Phaedra Parks Has Been Named Atlanta's Most Popular Lawyer |url=https://www.bravotv.com/the-daily-dish/phaedra-parks-named-atlantas-most-popular-lawyer |access-date=April 27, 2026 |website=Bravo |language=en-US}}</ref>
Parks gained wider recognition upon her casting in Bravo's reality series, ''The Real Housewives of Atlanta'', in 2010.<ref>{{Cite web|last=George|first=Rachel|date=2021-11-26|title='Fashion, Foolery, Fun, Tears, Fights, Everything': Phaedra Parks Talks Returning to Reality TV and Her Acting Debut In 'Covenant'|url=https://atlantablackstar.com/2021/11/26/fashion-foolery-fun-tears-fights-everything-phaedra-parks-talks-returning-to-reality-tv-with-housewives-spin-off-and-her-acting-debut-in-covenant/|access-date=2022-01-11|website=Atlanta Black Star|language=en-US}}</ref> Her appearance on ''The Real Housewives of Atlanta'' helped her become nominated as one of Atlanta's top 100 Black women of influence, as her season 3 debut kick-started high publicity and positive attention for Parks.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2010-10-08|title=Another Real 'House'wife Welcome Phaedra Parks to the Neighborhood|url=https://abovethelaw.com/2010/10/another-real-housewife-welcome-phaedra-parks-to-the-neighborhood-draft/|access-date=2022-01-12|website=Above the Law|language=en-US}}</ref> In 2013, Parks released her first book, ''Secrets of the Southern Belle: How to Be Nice, Work Hard, Look Pretty, Have Fun and Never Have an Off Moment''.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Booker|first=Bobbi|date=2013-11-03|title='Real Housewives' Phaedra Parks releases self-help book|page=1B|work=Philadelphia Tribune}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Moelsein |first=Anna |date=2013-11-15 |title=Real Housewives of Atlanta's Phaedra Parks on the Show, Her Book, and More |url=https://www.glamour.com/story/how-to-be-a-southern-belle-acc |access-date=2022-01-11 |website=Glamour |language=en-US}}</ref>
In 2017, Parks was ultimately fired ahead of the show's tenth season following a rumor she circulated about fellow cast member Kandi Burruss and her husband Todd Tucker's intentions to drug and rape cast member Porsha Williams.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Jackson |first=Dory |date=2021-06-03 |title=RHOA's Phaedra Parks Says Men Broke Into Her Car and Stole 'Sentimental' Items — Including Gift from Porsha Williams |url=https://people.com/tv/rhoa-phaedra-parks-car-broken-into-sentimental-items-stolen/ |access-date=2022-01-11 |website=PEOPLE.com |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Quinn |first=Dave |date=2017-05-07 |title=RHOA Reunion: Phaedra Parks Admits to Spreading Drug Accusations |url=https://people.com/tv/phaedra-parks-admits-to-spreading-drug-accusations-about-kandi-burruss-rhoa-reunion-part-4/ |access-date=2022-01-11 |website=PEOPLE.com |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Bricker |first=Tierney |date=2017-05-08 |title=Phaedra Parks Is Not Returning to The Real Housewives of Atlanta |url=https://www.eonline.com/ca/news/849269/phaedra-parks-is-not-returning-to-the-real-housewives-of-atlanta |access-date=2022-01-11 |website=E! Online}}</ref> Following her departure from ''RHOA'', Bravo tentatively announced a new unscripted series focused on Parks alone titled, ''Rich People's Problems''.<ref name=":2" /><ref>{{Cite web|date=2013-04-03|title=Settling 'Rich People's Problems'|url=https://www.huffpost.com/entry/phaedra-parks-rich-peoples-problems-bravo-network-confims-rumors_n_3008425|access-date=2022-01-11|website=HuffPost|language=en}}</ref> The show was never released.
In 2020, Parks and then-boyfriend, Medina Islam, appeared on the season two premiere of ''Marriage Boot Camp: Hip Hop Edition''<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|last=Sander|first=Brice|date=2021-11-11|title=Phaedra Parks Teases 'Action-Packed' All-Star 'Housewives' Show as She Makes TV Return With 'Covenant'|url=https://www.etonline.com/phaedra-parks-teases-action-packed-all-star-housewives-show-as-she-makes-tv-return-with-covenant|access-date=2022-01-11|website=Entertainment Tonight online|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Smith|first=Candace Cordelia|date=2021-04-29|title=All The Clues That Phaedra Parks Could Make A Controversial 'RHOA' Return|url=https://www.bustle.com/entertainment/will-phaedra-parks-return-to-real-housewives-of-atlanta|access-date=2022-01-11|website=Bustle|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|last=Rogers|first=Chris|date=2020-07-03|title=Phaedra Parks Reveals Why She REALLY Wasn't Intimate With Medina Before 'Marriage Boot Camp'|work=Hollywood Life}}</ref> She made her acting debut in ''Covenant'', an eight-episode anthology series on Allblk, in October 2021.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|last=Cooper|first=Diana|date=2021-10-10|title=Phaedra Parks: Why My Kids Have 'Never' Watched 'RHOA'|url=https://www.usmagazine.com/celebrity-moms/news/phaedra-parks-explains-why-her-kids-have-never-watched-rhoa/|access-date=2022-01-11|website=Us Weekly|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Regalado|first=Michelle|date=2021-10-08|title=Phaedra Parks Shared Some Interesting News About Her Career and Kids|url=https://www.bravotv.com/the-daily-dish/phaedra-parks-shares-update-on-her-career-and-kids|access-date=2022-01-11|website=Bravo TV Official Site|language=en-US}}</ref> She played Bernice Whitfield, the family matriarch.<ref name=":0" /> In 2021, it was announced that Parks would be appearing on the second season of ''The Real Housewives Ultimate Girls Trip (''subtitled ''Ex-Wives Club),'' the franchise's 'mash-up' series produced by Peacock featuring multiple well-known former housewives from the franchise.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Sanders|first=Shamika|date=2021-08-24|title=Phaedra Parks Brings Back Her Blonde Do|url=https://hellobeautiful.com/3434069/phaedra-blonde-hair/|access-date=2022-01-11|website=HelloBeautiful|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=WONY|date=2021-12-31|title='Real Housewives Ultimate Girls Trip' Season 2 : Release date, Cast, and More details|url=https://nilsenreport.ca/real-housewives-ultimate-girls-trip-season-2-release-date-cast-and-more-details/|access-date=2022-01-11|website=Nilsen Report|language=en-us}}</ref>
In 2022, alongside Parks' ''RHUGT'' main cast appearance, she additionally starred in a recurring guest role in ''The Real Housewives of Dubai's'' first season, as a friend of housewife Caroline Brooks.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.bravotv.com/the-daily-dish/rhodubai-andy-cohen-caroline-stanbury-phaedra-parks-preview | title=Phaedra Previews Her RHODubai Appearance, While Andy & Caroline Drop a Few Special Teases | date=18 May 2022 }}</ref> Shereé Whitfield stated that Parks filmed for Season 14 of ''RHOA'' at her fashion show, however scenes featuring Parks were never aired. Rumours regarding Parks' return to ''RHOA'' in a full-time capacity have begun to swirl following executive producer Andy Cohen stating he would love to have her back, following her 2017 firing.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.cheatsheet.com/entertainment/andy-cohen-phaedra-parks-rhoa-return.html/ | title='RHOA': Andy Cohen Wants Phaedra Parks to Return, but Will She? | date=13 February 2022 }}</ref> Reportedly, her appearances on ''RHUGT'', ''RHOA'' and ''RHODXB'' are to test whether her Bravo comeback appeals to audiences. Kandi Burruss has stated she would leave ''RHOA'' if Parks returns.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://hollywoodlife.com/2022/05/23/drew-sidora-phaedra-parks-return-rhoa-interview/ | title=Drew Sidora Reveals Why She'd Love to See Phaedra Parks Return to 'RHOA' | date=23 May 2022 }}</ref>
In January 2023, it was announced that Parks would return for the fifth season (and second ''Ex-Wives Club'' season) of ''The Real Housewives Ultimate Girls Trip'', taking place in Marrakesh, Morocco and set to premiere in 2024.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Franklin |first=McKinley |date=2023-08-02 |title='Real Housewives Ultimate Girls Trip: RHONY Legacy' Swaps Dates With 'Ex-Wives Club' |url=https://variety.com/2023/tv/news/real-housewives-rhony-legacy-ulimate-girls-trip-premiere-date-ex-wives-club-1235686185/ |access-date=2023-08-03 |website=Variety |language=en-US}}</ref> Parks signed onto the tenth season of ''Married to Medicine'', replacing Dr. Contessa Metcalfe and Anila Sajja.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://realityblurb.com/2023/03/08/report-dr-contessa-metcalfe-quits-married-to-medicine-as-phaedra-parks-joins-show-ahead-of-season-10-was-anila-sajja-fired/ | title=Dr. Contessa Quits Married to Medicine, Phaedra Parks Joins | date=8 March 2023 }}</ref> In September 2023, it was announced that Parks would be a contestant on Peacock's second season of ''The Traitors'', which aired in early 2024. She was selected to be a 'traitor' and was banished in episode ten.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Moylan |first=Brian |date=2024-03-01 |title=We Have Phaedra Parks's Mom to Thank for Her Turn on The Traitors |url=https://www.vulture.com/article/phaedra-interview-the-traitors-season-2.html |access-date=2024-08-10 |website=Vulture |language=en}}</ref>
In July 2024, it was announced that Parks would be returning to ''The Real Housewives of Atlanta'', after a six-season hiatus, for the sixteenth season.<ref>{{cite news |last=Quinn |first=Dave |title=Phaedra Parks Joins Real Housewives of Atlanta Season 16 After Kenya Moore Departure: 'You Called, I Answered'|url=https://people.com/phaedra-parks-joins-real-housewives-of-atlanta-season-16-8685417/ |work=People |date=July 29, 2024|access-date=July 29, 2024}}</ref> In September 2024, Parks was announced as one of the celebrities competing on season 33 of ''Dancing with the Stars''. She was partnered with Valentin Chmerkovskiy.<ref>{{Cite web |date=September 4, 2024 |title=Meet the celebrity cast of 'Dancing with the Stars' season 33 |url=https://abcnews.go.com/GMA/Culture/dancing-with-the-stars-season-33-cast/story?id=113355662 |access-date=September 6, 2024 |website=ABC News |language=en}}</ref>
== Personal life == Between 2009 and 2017, Parks was married to Apollo Nida. Nida was convicted of conspiracy to commit mail, wire, and bank fraud, but Parks has maintained she had no knowledge of his criminal activity.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Zaragoza|first=Alex|date=2021-07-04|title=Why Is Fraud So Common in the 'Real Housewives'?|url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/why-is-fraud-so-common-jen-shah-real-housewives-of-salt-lake-city/|access-date=2022-01-11|website=Vice.com|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=2014-07-09|title=Apollo Nida, 'RHOA' star Phaedra Parks' hubby, gets 8-year sentence|url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/gossip/la-et-mg-apollo-nida-rhoa-phaedra-parks-real-housewives-of-atlanta-20140708-story.html|access-date=2022-01-11|website=Los Angeles Times|language=en-US}}</ref> With Nida, she has two children.<ref name=":1" /> She dated Medina Islam before breaking up in 2021.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Gillam|first=Sharde|date=2022-01-11|title=Phaedra Parks Struts In Chanel In Stylish Instagram Video|url=https://hellobeautiful.com/3550852/phaedra-parks-stylish-instagram-video/|access-date=2022-01-11|website=HelloBeautiful|language=en-US}}</ref>
Regarding ''The Real Housewives of Atlanta'' and similar shows, Parks stated that she would "never" let her children watch the programs, saying "That's not child-appropriate" and "I don't think it was created for children and so I don't know if any responsible parent allows their child to watch those types of shows."<ref>{{cite web |last1=Heron |first1=Sarah |title=Former 'Real Housewives of Atlanta' Stars: Where Are They Now? |url=https://www.usmagazine.com/entertainment/pictures/former-rhoa-stars-where-are-they-now/ |website=usmagazine.com |publisher=a360media Entertainment Group |access-date=12 January 2025}}</ref>
==Filmography== ===Television=== {| class="wikitable sortable" |- ! Year ! Title ! Role ! class="unsortable" | Notes |- |2009 |''Tiny and Toya'' |Consulting producer | |- |2010–2017, 2024– |''The Real Housewives of Atlanta'' |Herself |Main cast (seasons 3–9, 16–) |- |2011–2022 |''The Wendy Williams Show'' |Herself | |- |2012–2024 |''Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen'' |Herself |Guest |- |2014–2022 |''Dish Nation'' |Herself |Guest co-host in seasons 10 and 11 |- |2015, 2023–2025 |''Married to Medicine'' |Herself |Guest (season 3)<br>Main cast (seasons 10–11) |- |2018 |''Braxton Family Values'' |Herself | |- |2020 |''Marriage Boot Camp: Hip Hop Edition'' |Herself |1 episode |- |2021 |''Covenant'' |Bernice Whitfield |2 episodes |- |2022–24 |''The Real Housewives Ultimate Girls Trip'' |Herself |Main cast (Seasons 2 & 5) |- |2022 |''The Real Housewives of Dubai'' |Herself |2 episodes |- |2023 |''The Real Housewives of New Jersey'' |Herself |1 episode |- |2024 |''The Traitors'' |Contestant – Traitor | 7th Place (season 2) |- |2024 |''Dancing with the Stars'' |Contestant with Val Chmerkovskiy | 8th place (season 33) |- |2024 |''Will Trent'' | Adela Blakely | 1 episode |}
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== * {{IMDb name|nm3652879}}
{{The Traitors in the United States}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Parks, Phaedra}} Category:21st-century African-American lawyers Category:21st-century American lawyers Category:African-American television personalities Category:People from Athens, Georgia Category:Lawyers from Atlanta Category:Television personalities from Atlanta Category:Living people Category:Wesleyan College alumni Category:University of Georgia alumni Category:1973 births Category:21st-century American women lawyers