The Ultimate Guide To The Real Housewives Of Atlanta Season 16 Cast: New Peaches, Explosive Drama, And Shocking Returns

The Real Housewives of Atlanta (RHOA) returned with its sixteenth season in March 2025, launching what many fans and critics are calling a full-scale reboot of the iconic Bravo franchise. This highly anticipated season delivered on its promise of fresh energy and familiar faces, bringing back two of the most popular OGs and introducing a trio of dynamic new 'peaches.' As of December 2025, the season has been a whirlwind of shifting alliances, explosive confrontations, and deeply personal storylines that have redefined the Atlanta social scene.

The latest iteration of the Atlanta Housewives has successfully reignited the spark that made the show a reality television powerhouse. With a mix of veteran sass and newcomer ambition, the Season 16 cast navigates dramatic divorces, high-stakes business ventures, and the complex dynamics of long-standing friendships turned sour. This comprehensive guide breaks down the full cast, their essential biographies, and the most current, must-know drama from the season.

The Real Housewives of Atlanta Season 16 Full Cast Biography & Profiles

The sixteenth season features seven main cast members, including three returning fan favorites and four new or elevated personalities.

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• Porsha Williams: A veteran of the show, Porsha returned to the series as a full-time cast member following a brief departure. Her storyline focuses on her personal life and her complex relationships within the group, particularly her long-time friendship with Shamea Morton.
• Phaedra Parks: Known as the "Frack," Phaedra made a shocking and highly anticipated return to the franchise after a significant hiatus. The successful attorney and mortician is back to reclaim her spot and navigate the new social order.
• Drew Sidora: Returning for her third season, Drew's storyline centers heavily on the highly publicized breakdown of her marriage and her journey to single motherhood and self-discovery.
• Shamea Morton Mwangi: Promoted from a "Friend of" to a full-time Housewife, Shamea is a radio personality and entrepreneur. Her season focuses on juggling motherhood, her daughter Shiloh's health, and the stress of her fractured friendship with Porsha.
• Kelli Ferrell: A new addition and a celebrity chef, Kelli is the proud owner of the popular breakfast spot Nana's Chicken & Waffles, which has multiple locations outside of Atlanta. She is known for her culinary talent and bringing a no-nonsense attitude to the group.
• Brit Eady (Brittany Eady): A successful businesswoman and entrepreneur, Brit is a Georgia native who made her fortune in the insurance industry, operating an Allstate business, and has also been involved in the fashion world. She is a devoted wife and a new face in the Atlanta Housewives circle.
• Angela Oakley: A self-made millionaire, Angela's professional background is rooted in real estate, tax, and finance. She is also notable as the wife of basketball legend Charles Oakley. Angela prides herself on her business success and bold, outspoken personality.

The Explosive Season 16 Drama: Divorce, Feuds, and a Friendship Destroyed

Season 16 was characterized by intense, personal conflicts that spilled over from the cameras into the cast members' real lives. The return of OGs Porsha Williams and Phaedra Parks immediately set the stage for a power struggle among the peach holders, but it was the personal turmoil of the cast that delivered the most shocking moments.

Drew Sidora’s Divorce and the "Nesting" Arrangement

Drew Sidora’s storyline provided the emotional anchor of the season, detailing the messy, ongoing divorce from her estranged husband, Ralph Pittman. The premiere revealed the highly unusual and tense "nesting" arrangement, where the separated couple continued to live in the same house, swapping who stayed in the main bedroom while maintaining a façade for their children.

The divorce drama escalated quickly, with accusations flying from both sides. Ralph Pittman publicly leveled serious accusations against Drew, alleging an affair with former WNBA player Ty Young. Drew, who had previously filed for divorce an hour before Ralph, was left to navigate the emotional fallout and public scrutiny of her marriage's end, providing a raw and vulnerable look at her life as a working mother and actress.

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The Porsha vs. Shamea Feud That Ruined a Friendship

One of the most heartbreaking and central conflicts of the season was the implosion of the long-standing, seemingly unbreakable friendship between Porsha Williams and Shamea Morton Mwangi. Shamea, now a full-time cast member, was forced to confront Porsha on issues that originated during filming, which Porsha later admitted "seeped to the outside world" and ruined their off-screen bond.

The tension involved other cast members, including a confrontation where Kelli Ferrell challenged Porsha over past scandals and dynamics. Porsha's return was not the triumphant comeback many expected, as she found herself at odds with both old friends and new faces, struggling to maintain her storyline amidst the drama.

Newcomer Clashes: Phaedra, Angela, and the Reunion Snub

The new Atlanta Housewives wasted no time in making their mark, immediately engaging in high-stakes conflicts with the returning veterans.

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• Phaedra vs. Angela: The return of Phaedra Parks, titled "Frack Is Back," saw her quickly clash with new self-made millionaire Angela Oakley. Their intense clash was a major point of discussion, with Phaedra later commenting that she felt she was "definitely framed" in some of the season's drama.
• Kelli vs. Brit: Chef Kelli Ferrell brought her own heat, notably exposing an issue with fellow newcomer Brit Eady. The conflict became so significant that Brit Eady reportedly skipped the highly anticipated Season 16 Reunion, suggesting the drama between the new Bravo stars was far from resolved by the season's end.

The Season 16 cast of The Real Housewives of Atlanta has delivered a fresh, compelling narrative. By bringing back the star power of Porsha and Phaedra and introducing the compelling careers and personalities of Brit Eady, Kelli Ferrell, and Angela Oakley, the show has successfully rebooted its format. The intense, real-life issues—from Drew's ongoing divorce to the tragic end of Porsha and Shamea's friendship—ensure that the RHOA franchise remains essential viewing in the world of reality television. Fans are eagerly awaiting the next chapter of this newly energized and drama-filled season.