Phaedra and CT are now officially romantically involved, and reality TV fans are still processing it. The RHOA star and The Challenge veteran first built an unlikely friendship on The Traitors Season 2. After weeks of public flirting, Phaedra confirmed the relationship in September 2026. What started as castle banter has become one of the most talked-about pairings of the year, and the timeline is more layered than most headlines suggest.
Phaedra and CT Quick Bio Facts
| Field | Phaedra Parks | CT Tamburello |
|---|---|---|
| Full Name | Phaedra Creonta Parks | Christopher Michael Tamburello |
| Nickname | Phaedra | CT |
| Date of Birth | October 26, 1973 | July 16, 1980 |
| Place of Birth | Athens, Georgia, USA | Boston, Massachusetts, USA |
| Age | 52 (turns 53 on October 26, 2026) | 46 |
| Nationality | American | American |
| Zodiac Sign | Scorpio | Cancer |
| Profession | Attorney, TV personality, author | TV personality, actor |
| Education | BA, Wesleyan College; JD, University of Georgia | — |
| Known For | The Real Housewives of Atlanta, The Traitors Season 2 | The Challenge, The Real World: Paris, The Traitors Season 2 winner |
| Former Spouse(s) | Apollo Nida (married 2009, divorce finalized 2017) | Lilianet Solares (2018–2023); Catalina White (married 2024, divorce pending) |
| Relationship Status | Dating CT Tamburello | Dating Phaedra Parks |
| Children | Ayden and Dylan | Christopher “C.J.” Tamburello |
Are Phaedra and CT Dating? The Official Confirmation
Yes, Phaedra and CT are dating. Phaedra confirmed it herself on Friday, September 4, 2026, during an appearance on Jeff Lewis Live, his SiriusXM radio show. Jeff had heard she was bringing a date to the Emmys and asked her directly whether it was platonic. Her answer was a short, clear “It’s not.”
Jeff then confirmed the date was CT and asked whether they had gone out before. Phaedra said they had, but she wouldn’t say how many dates or exactly how long it had been going on. She did say things started the last time she was in Los Angeles.
CT made his side of the story public in real time. He posted a photo from his van saying he was about to pick her up, then shared clips of Phaedra in the SiriusXM studio and later riding with him outside the studio. For a couple who had spent months dodging questions about their personal life, it was a fairly loud soft launch.
What stood out to me was how relaxed the whole exchange felt. Phaedra has spent years guarding her love life on camera, so a casual, one-line confirmation on live radio told viewers more than any long statement would have.
How Phaedra and CT Met on The Traitors
Phaedra and CT met while filming The Traitors Season 2 in 2023. The season aired on Peacock in 2024. They were on opposite sides of the game: Phaedra was a Traitor and CT was a Faithful. On paper, that should have made them enemies.
| Detail | Phaedra Parks | CT Tamburello |
|---|---|---|
| Role in the game | Traitor | Faithful |
| Age at filming | 49 | 43 |
| How their game ended | Banished in Episode 10 | Won the season in Episode 11 |
| Result | Eliminated | Split the $208,100 prize with Trishelle Cannatella |
Their chemistry was obvious from early on. Phaedra gave CT the playful nickname “daddy,” which fans turned into the “Castle Daddy” running joke. The biggest moment came during a safety chain mission, when she lit his torch and kept him safe from murder that night. CT joked that he wasn’t going to turn the gesture down.
Phaedra was eventually banished unanimously in the penultimate episode. Even then, CT praised her as the best Traitor of the season. After the finale, he dismissed romance rumors and said nothing serious had happened in the castle. Many viewers, including me, read it as genuine rapport rather than a storyline at the time. In hindsight, the sincerity between them was hard to miss.
The Road to Going Public
The relationship didn’t appear out of nowhere. The groundwork was laid on social media in August 2026, and the red carpet made it official.
Flirty Instagram Exchanges Before the Confirmation
Last month, CT joked on Instagram that he was still looking for an Emmys plus-one. He asked his followers whether anyone could put in a good word for him with Phaedra. It was lighthearted, but the target was obvious.
Phaedra replied with “Baby, I’m already yours,” which immediately fueled romance rumors. Fans who had watched The Traitors footage took it as confirmation of what they had suspected for two years.
Days later, CT posted a follow-up video captioned “She said yes.” That set up the Emmys date before Phaedra ever said a word about it on the radio.
Creative Arts Emmys Red Carpet Debut
On Saturday, September 5, 2026, the couple made their red carpet debut at the Creative Arts Emmys at the Peacock Theater in downtown LA. CT was there as a presenter, and Phaedra was his date. Photos showed his hand at her waist as they posed for the cameras.
Phaedra later shared a series of coupled-up photos on Instagram. She captioned them with a nod to The Traitors: some came for the awards, but she came with the prize. It was a clever reference to CT winning his season.
They didn’t stay in Los Angeles long. Phaedra had already told Jeff Lewis that they were leaving the Emmys and heading to New York together, around CT’s work commitments.
Phaedra and CT Relationship: What We Know So Far
The Phaedra and CT relationship is still pretty new, but the signs point to something both of them are taking seriously. An insider claimed CT developed feelings for Phaedra while they were filming The Traitors. The same source said he makes her really happy and that they laugh a lot together.
Their public PDA has been easy and unforced. Fans have spotted them snuggling up in photos, and CT has been seen kissing her cheek. For two people known for strong personalities on reality TV, the softness is a big part of why fans are invested.
The timing also matters. Both of them came into this after difficult splits, so neither seems in a rush to label anything beyond dating. That slower approach usually signals that a couple is protecting what they have.
Phaedra Says She’s “Very Excited”
Phaedra gave her latest update on October 10, 2026, at a MISTR event for National PrEP Day at The Abbey in West Hollywood. She said she is very excited about the relationship and called CT a great guy.
She also shared something more personal. She said they are learning to communicate and that she feels comfortable with him. Those words say more than any red carpet photo, because comfort is something Phaedra rarely talks about publicly.
Phaedra and CT Ages and Age Gap
As of October 2026, Phaedra Parks is 52 and CT Tamburello is 46. Phaedra turns 53 on October 26, 2026. That makes Phaedra about six years older than CT.
Some online sources list Phaedra’s age incorrectly, so it is worth checking her birth date: October 26, 1973, in Athens, Georgia. CT was born on July 16, 1980, in Boston, Massachusetts.
Fans have not treated the age gap as a big deal. Most of the conversation has focused on their chemistry and history rather than numbers, which is fair. When they met on The Traitors, Phaedra was 49 and CT was 43, so the gap has been there from day one.
Phaedra’s and CT’s Past Marriages and Children
Both stars have been married before, and both are parents. Their histories explain why fans are watching this romance closely.
| Year | Phaedra Parks | CT Tamburello |
|---|---|---|
| 2009 | Married Apollo Nida | — |
| 2010 | Son Ayden born | — |
| 2013 | Son Dylan born | — |
| 2016 | — | Son Christopher “C.J.” born |
| 2017 | Divorce from Apollo Nida finalized | — |
| 2018 | — | Married Lilianet Solares |
| 2022 | — | Filed for divorce from Solares |
| 2023 | — | Divorce from Solares finalized in November |
| 2024 | — | Married Catalina White in October |
| 2026 | Began dating CT | Catalina filed for divorce in January |
Phaedra Parks and Apollo Nida
Phaedra married Apollo Nida in 2009, and their split played out across RHOA seasons. Their divorce was finalized in 2017. They share two sons, Ayden and Dylan, whom they co-parent.
After the divorce, Phaedra kept her dating life mostly low-key. She was linked to Medina Islam, among others, but none of those relationships were as public as this one.
CT’s Marriages to Lilianet Solares and Catalina White
CT married Lilianet Solares in 2018. They share a son, Christopher “C.J.” Tamburello Solares, born in 2016. CT filed for divorce in 2022, and the divorce was finalized in November 2023.
He then married Catalina White, an OnlyFans star, in October 2024. Catalina filed for divorce in January 2026. As of now, that divorce is not finalized, which is the detail most people miss when they hear CT is dating again.
How Fans and Friends Reacted to Phaedra and CT
Reactions were mostly positive, with a healthy dose of surprise. Few people had this crossover on their reality TV bingo card.
Social Media Reacts to the Couple
Fans of The Traitors called it perfect timing and pointed to the chemistry from the castle as proof. Housewives viewers were more mixed, joking about the drama it could bring to a new RHOA season.
Celebrities joined in too. Chilli and Matthew Lawrence were among the names whose comments drew attention, adding to the sense that this was an unexpected but welcome pairing.
Johnny Bananas Backs the Relationship
CT’s longtime Challenge friend and rival Johnny Bananas voiced his support on September 10. He joked that CT had leveled up by dating an attorney. He also said he’d be ready to jump out of the cake at their wedding.
Coming from Bananas, the teasing reads as a stamp of approval. Their bond is built on years of competing, so this kind of brotherly roasting is a good sign.
Catalina White’s “Sign the Papers” Reaction
Catalina White, who filed for divorce from CT in January, had a blunt response to the news. She told CT to sign the divorce papers.
She also said she is thriving and happy. Her reaction is a reminder that CT’s legal situation is still open, even as his new relationship is very much public.
Is the Phaedra and CT Romance Real or a Reality TV Storyline?
Some viewers have questioned whether the romance is a storyline. The timing lines up with RHOA Season 18, and reality fans are used to production-driven relationships. That skepticism is understandable.
Still, the evidence points toward something real. Their rapport started on The Traitors in 2023, long before any current filming. CT also denied anything romantic for over two years, which is the opposite of what a planned storyline would look like.
From my experience covering reality TV couples, staged romances usually peak on camera and fade off it. Phaedra and CT have done the reverse: their relationship has mostly played out at events, on radio, and on Instagram, not in scripted scenes.
Phaedra’s Current RHOA Run
Phaedra is back on RHOA after years away and is at the center of the show again. She defended herself during a heated exchange with Pinky Cole at the Season 17 reunion, hosted by Andy Cohen.
Whether CT appears on the show is still unknown. If he does, viewers will get the clearest look yet at how the Phaedra and CT relationship works away from The Traitors.
FAQs
Are Phaedra and CT still together?
Yes. As of October 2026, Phaedra and CT are still dating. Phaedra’s most recent update in mid-October described the relationship positively, and there have been no reports of a split.
Is CT Tamburello’s divorce from Catalina White final?
No. Catalina White filed for divorce in January 2026, and the case is still not finalized. That means CT is legally still married while dating Phaedra.
Who won The Traitors Season 2?
CT Tamburello and Trishelle Cannatella won The Traitors Season 2 as Faithfuls. They split the $208,100 prize, which works out to just over $104,000 each.
How many children do Phaedra and CT have?
Between them, they have three sons. Phaedra has two sons with Apollo Nida, and CT has one son with Lilianet Solares. They do not have any children together.
When did Phaedra and CT start dating?
They have not shared an exact start date. Phaedra said things began during her last trip to Los Angeles before September 2026, and she confirmed the relationship on September 4, 2026.
Read About : is haaland married