steel magnolia

plural steel magnolias

1. Southern USA woman, unashamed, who exemplifies both traditional femininity and an uncommon fortitude.

   Reporters called Nancy Reagan an iron butterfly and Rosalind^([sic]) Carter a steel magnolia.

   1983, Roland Bartel, Metaphors and symbols: Forays into Language, National Council of Teachers of English, →ISBN, page 48

   2 more examples

   Ms. Deen is an irresistible example of that extraordinary phenomenon of Southern womanhood, the steel magnolia. She is always appealing and gracious but possessed of an unfailing survival instinct — a necessary character trait for a Southern cook to make it.

   1998, John Berendt (introduction), The Lady & Sons Savannah Country Cookbook, Random House, Inc., →ISBN, page xv

   "That's how Candy refers to herself to make the vamps think she's just a little Southern belle." "When she's really a steel magnolia?"

   2009, Nancy Haddock, Last Vampire Standing, Penguin Group, →ISBN, page 111