Real Housewives of Atlanta alum Kim Zolciak weighed in on the show’s season 16 cast shakeup, Kenya Moore’s exit and her potential return.
Kim Zolciak once again has her eye on the prize peach.
Nearly 12 years after the reality star abruptly left The Real Housewives of Atlanta in the middle of season five, Kim revealed the two reasons she’s finally considering a potential return to the Bravo reality series.
“I know Porsha [Williams] is back, who I love to pieces and absolutely adore her,” the Surreal Life: Villa of Secrets star exclusively told E! News. “She’s hysterical. Happy for her and love that she’s back.”
Plus, reports that another beloved RHOA alum might be back for season 16 have further piques Kim’s interest in rejoining the friend group.
“I heard rumors Phaedra [Parks] might return,” she added, “which I would be totally game for too because she’s amazing.”
In fact, the recently refreshed cast has made Kim change her mind.
“I’ve been saying I would never return but, as I’m talking right now, I might think about it because these are two very funny and light-hearted fun people,” the 46-year-old admitted. “Porsha and Phaedra might do it for me. We’ll see.”
However, Kim isn’t totally ready for all the drama that comes with being on Housewives.
Prince Williams/Wireimage“I’d have to seriously consider it,” the “Tardy for the Party” singer noted. “One thing that I just don’t do well with and never have is the negativity and the drama. I’m a pretty positive person. I love to laugh, I love to help people and Housewives at times is extremely trying and very disappointing. I do have like PTSD from a lot of my experiences on the show too that I’m working through.”
But one change that doesn’t surprise Kim? Kenya Moore recently exiting the series after a season 16 controversy.
“I was updated by another housewife on what Kenya did,” she shared. “I’ve always said that her character is heavily flawed. She’s where she needs to be at this point.”
See Kim make her return to reality TV when Surreal Life: Villa of Secrets premieres Tuesday, July 23, at 9 p.m. on Bravo. And keep reading to see where Kim lands on E!’s official ranking of every Housewife ever.
Adam Olszweski/Bravo152-155. The Real Housewives of D.C.
Bravo’s ill-fated attempt at highlighting our nation’s capital brought together four women so forgettable you’d be forgiven for erasing them from your memory—though their names are Mary Amons, Lynda Erkiletian, Cat Ommanney and Stacie Scott Turner—and one so desperate for fame that she gate-crashed a party at the White House. More on her later.
Chris McPherson/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank151. Kimberly Bryant, The Real Housewives of Orange County
Who?
Matthias Clamer/NBCU Photo Bank150. Tammy Knickerbocker, The Real Housewives of Orange County
Vaguely familiar, but…
Virginia Sherwood/Bravo/NBCU Photo Bank149. DeShawn Snow, The Real Housewives of Atlanta
Once upon a time, DeShawn starred on the same TV show as NeNe Leakes. Surprising, we know.
Yavir Ramawtar/Bravo148. Elizabeth Lyn Vargas, The Real Housewives of Orange County
This one-season Housewife brought nothing to the Orange County table.
Chad Kirkland/Bravo/NBCU Photo Bank147. Jennie Nguyen, The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City
Utah’s newest season two Housewife went out with a bang (and not in a good way). In January 2022, Jennie was fired after “offensive” and racially insensitive old Facebook posts resurfaced online. Jennie later apologized but the damage was done.
Kelsey McNeal/Bravo/NBCU Photo Bank146. Quinn Fry, The Real Housewives of Orange County
Her defining trait was “cougar.”
Tommy Garcia/Bravo145. Jen Armstrong, The Real Housewives of Orange County
The Orange County doctor was never a source of drama during season 16 and her brief marriage troubles with eternally shirtless husband Ryne (or Ryan?) were less than riveting. However, we will never forget Dr. Jen getting absolutely wasted on wine during the Dubrows’ insanely awkward—yet wildly entertaining—dinner party.
Bravo144: Annemarie Wiley, The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills
The nurse anesthetist’s flop first season can be summed up in one cringe-worthy word we hope we never hear again: Esophagus-gate.
Tommy Garcia/Bravo/NBCU Photo Bank143. Katie Rost, The Real Housewives of Potomac
Katie loved to talk about her charity work, but…didn’t do much else on screen. She was one and done, only to come back and not contribute much as a friend. Leaving the cast trip early? A Housewives no-no.
Tommy Garcia/Bravo/NBCU Photo Bank142. Charrisse Jackson Jordan, The Real Housewives of Potomac
Her marriage problems were on full display the two seasons she was a full-time Housewife…that and her champagne room are the two memorable things about Charrisse.
Alex Martinez/Bravo/NBCU Photo Bank141. Shamari DeVoe, The Real Housewives of Atlanta
A one-and-done Housewife, Shamari was at least fun?
Tommy Garcia/Bravo140. Peggy Sulahian, The Real Housewives of Orange County
While it was nice to see some diversity in the lily-white O.C., Peggy ultimately proved to be a frustrating presence in season 12. The fights she chose to pick were bizarre, and often involving someone using a word she simply didn’t understand, and her decision to simply hide out in her room for an entire day during the trip to Iceland proved that she wasn’t really cut out for this Real Housewives life.
Jai Lennard/Bravo139. Nneka Ihim, The Real Housewives of Potomac
Instead of bonding with fellow Nigerian costar Wendy Osefo during season eight, Nneka’s first season storyline centered entirely around her allegedly accusing Wendy’s mom of being a witch (yes, seriously). We wish we could have seen the two bond over their shared culture rather than fighting with no resolve.
Charles Sykes/Bravo/NBCU Photo Bank138. Noella Bergener, The Real Housewives of Orange County
Noella spun through season 16 like a tornado of frantic energy. While her personal struggles were somewhat compelling (her husband James up and left the country and asked for a divorce right before filming started), it was her constant drama with queen bee Heather Dubrow that helped her not land completely at the bottom of the list. Maybe with more time and another season, we’ll warm up to Mrs. Bergener.
Tommy Garcia/Bravo/NBCU Photo Bank137. Siggy Flicker, The Real Housewives of New Jersey
From peacekeeper in her first season to unrelenting complaints about a thrown cake and unfounded claims of anti-Semitism in her second (and last) season, we’re not sure we’ve ever seen a quicker Real Housewives fall from grace than this one.
Tommy Garcia/Bravo/NBCU Photo Bank136. Eva Marcille, RHOA
The America’s Next Top Model veteran picked up a peach for seasons 11 and 12, but never really made an impression in the world of RHOA, aside from being pregnant for what felt like her entire tenure. Points for that epic read of Marlo Hampton while in Tokyo, though.
Gustavo Caballero/Getty Images for Allied-THA135. Karent Sierra, The Real Housewives of Miami
All we remember about Karent is that she was a dentist and none of her co-stars seemed to like her at all. Next!
Alexander Tamargo/WireImage134. Cristy Rice,The Real Housewives of Miami
This was a real person with a show on Bravo. We promise.
Charles Sykes/Bravo/NBCU Photo Bank133. Jules Wainstein, The Real Housewives of New York City
As one of RHONY’s more recent one-and-dones, Jules’ tenure was too brief to rank any higher. However, she sure did deliver her fair share of drama.
Mike Pont/Getty Images131-132. Teresa Aprea and Nicole Napolitano, RHONJ
So unnecessary they couldn’t even get individual taglines.
Alex Martinez/Bravo/NBCU Photo Bank130. Amber Marchese, RHONJ
Everything Amber and her husband Jim did seemed to reek of desperation. Plus, he was involved in more of the drama than she was. Not a good look.
Chris Haston/Bravo129. Nina Ali, The Real Housewives of Dubai
Much like co-star Sara Al Madani, Nina exemplified a multidimensional, successful Arab woman who is blending modern life with centuries-old cultural traditions. She avoided most of the season one drama and was sometimes overshadowed by her co-stars’ bigger, louder personalities.
Rich Polk/Bravo128. Sara Al Madani, The Real Housewives of Dubai
Sara’s positive, enlightened outlook on life was certainly pleasant, but didn’t provide for much drama (besides that one time she offered co-star Caroline Brooks some not-so-well received parenting advice). However, the tech entrepreneur shattered stereotypes of what it means to be a modern Muslim woman in the Middle East and for that we applaud her.
Andrew Eccles/Bravo126-127. Rachel Fuda & Danielle Cabral, The Real Housewives of New Jersey
RHONJ’s season 13 newbies certainly fit the mold of your typical Garden State Housewife and quickly found themselves in a season-long fight over literally nothing that Andy Cohen deemed pointless at the reunion. We’d love to see both return for season 14 for a chance to move up even higher on the list after an entertaining first go-around.
Tommy Garcia/Peacock125. Larsa Pippen, The Real Housewives of Miami
Larsa didn’t make a big impression on season one before leaving the series. When Peacock revived RHOM for season four in 2021, her whole storyline was about being the ex-BFF of Kim Kardashian. (and selling sexy feet pics on OnlyFans…)
Jeff Daly/Bravo/NBCU Photo Bank124. Ana Quincoces, The Real Housewives of Miami
Ana followed up her one season as a Bravolebrity by competing on season 12 of Next Food Network Star in 2016. She didn’t make it there, either.
Rodolfo Martinez/Bravo/NBCU Photo Bank123. Joyce Giraud de Ohoven, The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills
Unfortunately, she was nothing more than a punching bag for Brandi Glanville. Plus, her tagline celebrating the icky notion that you can never be too skinny was gross.
Diane Bondareff/Bravo/NBCU Photo Bank122. Cindy Barshop, The Real Housewives of New York City
Cindy was supposed to be the new Bethenny Frankel. Cindy was no Bethenny Frankel.
Chris Haston/Bravo121. Caroline Brooks, The Real Housewives of Dubai
Brooks’ gift to season one of RHODubai was a cameo from Real Housewives of Atlanta alum Phaedra Parks, who popped up on one episode to get all the tea on the co-stars’ drama. However, Brooks did cause a lot of unnecessary drama during season one (much of which occurred while she was a little too tipsy).
