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As <\/span>The Real Housewives of Atlanta<\/em><\/a> gears up for season 16, some cast shakeups have really changed some stuff around — and <\/span>Cynthia Bailey<\/a> has nothing but optimism for the episodes to come.<\/span><\/p>\n The RHOA alum\u00a0was in attendance on Wednesday at the\u00a0<\/span>25th edition of the “An Unforgettable Evening” gala<\/a>\u00a0on– a fundraiser gala held at the Beverly Wilshire, A Four Seasons Hotel, which benefited\u00a0the Women\u2019s Cancer Research Fund, a program of the Breast Cancer Research Foundation (BCRF).<\/span><\/p>\n While walking the star-studded carpet, Bailey spoke with ET’s Denny Directo, and addressed the departure of <\/span>Kandi Burruss<\/a> and the return of\u00a0<\/span>Porsha Williams<\/a> for the show’s forthcoming season.<\/span><\/p>\n “Kandi’s been on since, I think, season 2. She is, in my opinion, one of the most inspiring women on the show,” Bailey marveled. “She’s such a boss, she’s always had her hand in so many other pots, and she’s just such a good person.”<\/span><\/p>\n Burruss <\/span>revealed to ET in February that she planned to step back from the show<\/a> to focus on other projects as well as her family.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n “I think, I’ve always known that once Kandi decided to move on, she was going to be fine,” Bailey continued. “She’s an actress, she’s a singer, I mean she’s all over the place. So I only expect to see even more from Kandi at this point.”<\/span><\/p>\n Additionally, Bailey noted that Burruss still “has a great relationship with the network, and she can go back anytime she wants to.”<\/span><\/p>\n While <\/span>Burruss is departing<\/a>, Williams has been <\/span>tapped to make her comeback after leaving the show<\/a> at the end of season 13 — the same season Bailey first decided to exit the series before coming back as a recurring guest and friend.<\/span><\/p>\n When asked if she felt bringing Williams back to the show was a good move on Bravo’s part, Bailey exclaimed, “Of course, of course of course! She’s great TV.”<\/span><\/p>\n “I know that she’s going to tell her story, she’s going to have fun with it, and she’s going to give us good TV,” Bailey shared.<\/span><\/p>\n Williams posted a video to Instagram back in February to share her excitement for returning to\u00a0<\/span>RHOA<\/span><\/em>.<\/span><\/p>\n “I’m incredibly thankful for the vision and faith NBCUniversal has put in me to be a larger part of their family,” Porsha says. “I’m looking forward to being back on\u00a0<\/span>The Real Housewives of Atlanta<\/span><\/em>, and showing the world my new world!”<\/span><\/p>\n In August<\/a>, a source told ET, “Bravo has been trying to get Porsha to come back to\u00a0<\/span>RHOA<\/span><\/i>\u00a0for the possible cast shakeup, but she’s playing hardball.”<\/span><\/p>\n The source added, “Porsha is telling friends she wants to be the highest-paid Housewife on any franchise. Porsha could return, but as of now, she and Bravo have not come to an agreement.”<\/span><\/p>\n At the time, Bravo offered Porsha a lot of money to return, but she declined.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n