The 'RHOA' star spoke exclusively to PEOPLE about her experience on the show at the season 33 premiere on Sept. 17
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Published on September 18, 2024 07:55AM EDT
Phaedra Parks. Photo:Disney/Eric McCandless
Phaedra Parks is setting her own standards on Dancing with the Stars!
Speaking exclusively to PEOPLE at the season 33 premiere on Tuesday, Sept. 17, The Real Housewives of Atlanta star, 50, said she didn’t seek tips from any of her fellow Housewives who have competed on the show as she is aiming to take home the Len Goodman Mirrorball Trophy.
“I didn't ask them. Because I want to go in the situation sort of fresh,” Parks tells PEOPLE. “We had a chat and so they gave me their thoughts about it, but I didn't really want their tips because I need to win. They haven't won yet.”
While Parks said that her training with dance partner Valentin Chmerkovskiy has been “intense,” she shared that her experience so far on the show has been “a lot of fun.”
“I had heard that it is extremely fun, but it's a lot of hard work,” she says. “But I'm a super-focused person, so I'm not afraid of hard work, but it's definitely no less than four hours a day.”
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From left: Alfonso Ribeiro, Phaedra Parks and Valentin Chmerkovskiy on the season 33 premiere of 'Dancing with the Stars'.Disney/Eric McCandless
Parks adds that she hopes to "win” the show and “continue to improve, do better every time.”
Her comments come after former RHOA stars Kenya Moore and Kim Zolciak-Biermann both competed on the show. While Moore, 53, finished in 10th place on season 30 in 2021, Zolciak, 46, scored 11th place on season 21 in 2015. NeNe Leakes was the first of the Atlanta housewives to compete on the show on season 18 back in 2014, coming in at seventh place.
Other housewives who have appeared on DWTS include The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills’ Erika Jayne and alum Lisa Rinna, The Real Housewives of New Jersey's Teresa Giudice and formerThe Real Housewives of Miami star Joanna Krupa. RHOBH alum Lisa Vanderpump also appeared in season 2 of the show.
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Lisa Vanderpump on 'Dancing with the Stars' with the late Len Goodman. Adam Taylor/Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty Images
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For the opening episode of the new season on Tuesday, Parks wowed the audience as she performed a Cha Cha to “I’m Every Woman” by Whitney Houston.
Speaking on her reason for joining the show, the mom of two added that she aims to set an empowering example to her two sons Ayden, 13, and Dylan, 10.
“They miss me a lot because I'm a very active mom, but I want to prove to them that I can actually dance and be super cool,” Parks tells PEOPLE. “So I'm just giving my all, but they'll be out here in a couple of weeks to watch.”
