The Real Housewives of Atlanta has said goodbye to many cast members since its Bravo debut in 2008 — but there’s always a chance they could return.
For instance, original RHOA star NeNe Leakes left the show in season 7 before rejoining the cast in 2018. “It’s been a long process but we’ve finally reached an agreement! All hail the Queen for season 10 of #RHOA @bravotv #thethreatisback,” she announced via Twitter one year earlier.
Scroll down to see what the former RHOA stars are doing now:
Lisa Wu
Lisa was a full-time cast member on RHOA for the first two seasons from 2008 to 2009. She appeared on the series as a guest in season 3, and made additional cameos in seasons 9, 10, 14 and 15.
The former backup dancer has focused on her acting career since leaving the RHOA, landing roles in films such as The Internship, London Mitchell’s Christmas and Pinch. Lisa also starred in TV One’s reality series Hollywood Divas for three seasons. As of early 2024, she is set to star in A Little Piece of Heaven.
Lisa’s personal life has also changed since she exited the series. She filed for divorce from her husband of five years, Ed Hartwell, with whom she shares one son, in August 2011. Fans will also remember Wu also shares two sons, Jordan and Justin, with her first husband, singer Keith Sweat.
Phaedra Parks
Phaedra exited RHOA after six seasons in 2017 after she admitted at the season 9 reunion that she lied about Kandi Burruss and Todd Tucker’s alleged plan to date rape Porsha Williams. Since her dramatic departure, the attorney signed on with Wilhelmina Models and frequently shares photos of her two sons, Ayden and Dylan, with ex-husband Apollo Nida.
In October 2021, she exclusively told Us that she will “never” let her kids watch RHOA. “That’s not child-appropriate,” she said. “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.”
Phaedra made her acting debut in 2021 while guest starring on Covenant. In 2024, she made a cameo on an episode of Will Trent and, most memorably, was a standout star on season two of Peacock’s smash reality competition The Traitors.
Kim Fields
The Facts of Life alum joined the Bravo series for season 8 in 2015 and did not return for a second season. Shortly after her exit, she competed on season 22 of Dancing With the Stars with professional dancer Sasha Farber. She was sent home during a double elimination and finished in eighth place.
Kim also starred in the TV movie Wrapped Up in Christmas and the Netflix series The Upshaws and 2024’s The Gutter. She released a book titled Bless Life: My Surprising Journey of Joy, Tears and Tales from Harlem to Hollywood in 2017. She continues to direct TV shows including Tyler Perry’s Young Dylan and Raven’s Home.
Kim has been married to Christopher Morgan since 2007. The couple share son Sebastian.
DeShawn Snow
DeShawn was one of the OG Real Housewives of Atlanta, starring on season 1 in 2008. She left the series after one season and has never returned. However, the drama did not stop after she left reality TV. She got divorced from her husband, Eric Snow, with whom she shares three sons, after 12 years of marriage in 2010.
She launched a career as a children’s chapter book author in 2012. DeShawn is now a personal coach and a real estate agent.
Claudia Jordan
The actress and model was added to RHOA as a full-time cast member for season 7 in 2014. While she did not return as a series regular for season 8, she made a guest appearance that season. Following her exit, Claudia starred on TV One’s reality series The Next: 15, which followed former reality TV personalities. She also competed on an episode of Chopped and appeared in multiple TV movies, including Sharknado 5: Global Swarming, along with the 2020 documentary, Trump vs. Hollywood.
She hosted her own talk show, Out Loud With Claudia Jordan, from 2019 to 2021 for the Fox Soul streaming network. Claudia later starred in All I Want Is You and Crossed and in 2024 she competed on Deal or No Deal Island.
NeNe Leakes
The OG cast member first exited the series in season 7 before returning for season 10 in 2018. Two years later, NeNe once again announced her departure from the show.
In September 2020, she claimed that Bravo “forced” her “out of the franchise.” However, NeNe teased in November 2021 that she had some “unfinished business” with the reality series and was “OK with returning to the show as long as we can work through a few things,” she told The Real at the time. “I’d be happy to return.”
NeNe’s husband of nearly 20 years, Gregg Leakes, died in September 2021 at age 66 following his battle with colon cancer. A month later, she reunited with her former RHOA costars at Gregg’s celebration of life ceremony. In October 2022, NeNe’s youngest son, Brentt, was sent to the hospital after he suffered from a heart attack and stroke.
Professionally, NeNe has appeared on Dynasty since her RHOA exit and starred in 2024’s Hunting Housewives on Lifetime.
Cynthia Bailey
The former model announced her exit from RHOA in September 2021 after 11 years on the series. In October 2022, the Bailey’s Wine Cellar founder announced she and Mike Hill were separating after two years of marriage.
The following year, Cynthia returned to RHOA for four episodes of season 15. She also appeared on several Real Housewives of Beverly Hills episodes in 2023 and one in 2024. Acting wise, Cynthia has starred in Blossom, Under His Influence, Miami Confidential and guest starred on BMF.
Porsha Williams
The Georgia native, who shares daughter Pilar with Dennis McKinley, announced her departure from the Bravo franchise in September 2021. In November 2022, Porsha tied the knot with Simon Guobadia — who was previously married to RHOA’s Falynn Guobadia — after being engaged for more than a year.
Porsha starred in The Real Housewives of Atlanta: Porsha’s Family Matters, which was about Porsha’s whirlwind romance with Simon and her family’s opinions, in 2021 to 2022. She returned to the Bravo universe in 2023 with season 3 of The Real Housewives: Ultimate Girls Trip. She also serves as the cohost on FOX’s Dish Nation.
Porsha announced in February 2024 that she’s returning to RHOA for season 16.
Eva Marcille
Eva announced in June 2020 that she was exiting the series after three seasons. Three years later, Eva filed for divorce from husband Michael Sterling. The pair share sons Mikey and Maverick. Eva is also the mother of daughter Marley, whom she shares with ex Kevin McCall.
Since leaving Bravo, Eva has continued to act with roles in A Christmas Fumble and A New Diva’s Christmas Carol. She starred in Sistas from 2022 to 2023 and has been playing Marilyn “Madam” DeVille on All the Queen’s Men since 2021.
Kim Zolciak-Biermann
Kim was a full-time cast member from 2008 to 2012. She went on to star in a spinoff called Don’t Be Tardy with her then-husband, Kroy Biermann. The series was canceled in 2020. Kim returned to RHOA for a cameo during season 15.
Kim and Kroy welcomed four children, KJ, Kash and twins Kaia and Kane, during their marriage. Kroy also adopted Kim’s two daughters, Brielle and Ariana, from previous relationships. In May 2023, the pair both filed for divorce. Although they briefly reconciled, Kroy filed again that summer and the estranged spouses have been in a messy legal battle.
Kandi Burress
Kandi announced in February 2024 that she is taking a break from RHOA after 14 seasons. Kandi initially joined the cast in 2009 during season 2. She also starred in spinoffs The Kandi Factory, Kandi’s Wedding, Kandi’s Ski Trip, Xscape: Still Kickin’ It and Kandi & the Gang.
Marlo Hampton
Marlo told Us in a February 2024 statement that she would not be returning for season 16 for RHOA. Marlo made her Bravo debut as a friend in season 4 and became a full-time Housewife in season 14.
