Cynthia Bailey Calls RHOA Return 'Amazing,' Says Latecomer Phaedra Parks 'Definitely Did Her Thing' in Season 16

Phaedra Parks ' return to The Real Housewives of Atlanta will be juicer than the peach she's holding!

At the Two Ts in a Pod live podcast event on Nov. 1, Cynthia Bailey was reflecting on her own "amazing" return to the hit Bravo show when she teased what fans can expect to see in the upcoming season.

"I feel like Atlanta was No. 1 for so long and I felt like we slid down," she began. "We were not where I think we should've been. It was fun to get back with the girls... there's something to be said about bringing in some fresh blood and some of the old girls as well."

Bailey shared how impressed she was with Parks' return. She revealed that the Traitors star had joined the cast for the last two weeks of filming and blew everyone out of the water.

"She was on another Bravo show called Married 2 Medicine," the Bravolebrity said of Parks. "She got the call and was like 'I'm outta here!' It was just amazing because I've never seen in the history of the show — with any franchise — a housewife, or past housewife, whatever you want to call it, come back with literally two weeks left and come back as a full housewife with a full red peach in her hand."

Before Parks' return, the show had been "anchored" around Porsha Williams and her storyline.

"I know she comes with us for our last international trip," Bailey continued, adding that she wasn't sure how producers would weave her into the season. "We got a lot done. I will say Phaedra definitely did her thing in the two weeks that she had. The season finale... this is her season."

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In July, Parks first revealed that she was returning for the upcoming 16th season. And while fans long wanted her to come back to the series that made her a household name, she told PEOPLE was waiting for the right time.

"They called and I answered," she explained in an August interview. "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."

Parks went on to explain that she was excited to reunite with Williams on the show, who coincidentally also returned to RHOA this season after a brief absence.