The Real Housewives of Atlanta (RHOA) fans have seen a lot of relationships play out on the show, but none as transparent as Cynthia Bailey and Peter Thomas.
When the model joined the cast in the third season she had just moved to Atlanta to be with her fianceé, Thomas. While there was serious apprehension from her sister and mother about the marriage, Bailey walked down the aisle anyway.
Seven years later, they’re now divorced.
“Look at every relationship [I’ve had], it always starts as a friendship,” the 50-year-old told ESSENCE. “I always try to stay true to that. Even if it doesn’t work out. Peter and I are great. We’re in a great space. We talk all the time.”
On the eve of the show’s tenth season debuting, RHOA fans should get ready to see Bailey enjoying the single life and her new lakefront home. From celebrating her year of 50 to going on dates, Bailey is stepping into a new world —and she’ll be doing it without a wing (wo)man.
“I was feeling some kind of way when Kenya [Moore] first got married,” Bailey said about her newlywed co-star.
“I was like, ‘Yay, I’m finally single! Kenya’s going to be my dating buddy!’ As soon as I was officially divorced, she ran up and got married. I’m like, ‘What?!’ And then had the nerve to not invite me. So I was definitely feeling some kind of way at the beginning. But, that’s my girl. At the end of the day, you know I wish her well. I am so happy for her. I’ve met her husband. He’s a great guy. I couldn’t be happier for her.”
Despite not having a dating buddy, Bailey alluded to having a new man in her life —but still having unfinished business with her ex-husband.
“This will be the first time you guys will see me with a different man on the show. There is one in particular that definitely stood out from the few that I dated,” Bailey revealed.
“[Regarding Peter] we actually have unfinished business. I’m his partner at Bar One Atlanta. We’re building it out now. This was a project that we started while we were together, and we kind of put it on hold while we were kind of not liking each other so much,” she said.
“Just because you’re not with someone anymore, because it didn’t work, whatever, doesn’t mean they’re still not family. I still do look at him as family. There are still relationships that are in place, that I want to go on forever. We’re just no longer together. I have no regrets. We had a great run. A lot of great things came out of our marriage. It just didn’t work out.”
The Real Housewives of Atlanta debuts on Bravo Nov. 5 at 8 p.m. EST.