The Emmy Awards are television’s biggest night, and this year, Real Housewives of Atlanta star Phaedra Parks made sure all eyes were on her as she took Access Hollywood viewers behind the scenes of her red-carpet preparations. Equal parts witty, fabulous, and unapologetically southern, Parks turned getting ready into a spectacle of its own.

A Queen in the Making

“Emmys loading. I’m taking over. Watch out,” Parks teased with her trademark sass before stepping into glam mode. Dressed in a show-stopping neutral-toned gown dripping with gems, she embodied “old Hollywood” glamour with a southern twist. “I’m a southern belle, so I want to exude ladylike glamour—regal and pretty. Not doing too much, but just enough… because the girls do too little,” she quipped.

Her look was a collaboration with Albina, who designed the gown specifically for Parks. “We wanted pristine beauty, elegance, but with just enough sparkle,” she explained. Her trusted glam squad—makeup artist Tommy Lola Babala (“aka Walkie Talkie”) and hair magician Alonzo—perfected the details, while stylist Art Con provided diamonds, jewels, and even foot-numbing cream to get her through the night.

A Star Among Stars

Parks has walked red carpets for decades as both attorney and talent, but this Emmy night was different. “To be able to work the carpet and have people forced to interact with me—it’s a dream come true. I’m in heaven,” she laughed.

She had her sights set on a few must-meet A-listers: Bowen Yang, Alan Cumming (“He’s got a heart of gold. A saint, really”), Felicia Rashad, and even Walton Goggins—whom she admitted reminded her a little too much of her ex-husband. “Something about him is sexy but dangerous. Flirting with poison,” she teased.

A Southern Belle With Substance

Preparation, Parks insists, is the secret to success. “I’ve studied every nominee, every presenter, Googled their backgrounds. I probably know their butt type,” she joked. “If something goes down, I can either resuscitate them or bury them.”

The reality star-turned-Emmys correspondent even showcased her humor in a quick Bravo-inspired game, effortlessly delivering the iconic tagline: “Only God can judge me. And he seems quite impressed.”

From Housewives to Hollywood Royalty

What sets Phaedra Parks apart isn’t just her wit—it’s her ability to turn any moment into television gold. Whether she’s reminiscing about clog dancing at southern festivals or recounting a chance flight with Debbie Allen, she makes the Emmys feel like a reunion of friends, mentors, and icons.

By the time she slipped into her gown and stepped out the door, Parks was every bit the Hollywood princess she claimed to feel like. “I feel like a winner already,” she said, glowing.

And that’s the magic of Phaedra Parks: always larger than life, always prepared, and always ready to steal the show.