The film "Steel Magnolias" has provided laughter and tears for generations. The stories of six Southern women describe the hardships and triumphs we face in everyday life. The community of true friendship portrayed in the film gives audiences a glimpse inside the world of women. It also portrays the Southern mindset through the narratives of these very Southern women. No matter what life throws their way, they can face it. Together.

Today, we'll explore the South, according to the women of "Steel Magnolias" (Julia Roberts, Sally Field, Dolly Parton, Shirley MacLaine, Daryl Hannah, Olympia Dukakis).

1. “I don’t trust anybody who does their own hair. I don’t think it’s natural.”

Everything’s bigger in Texas? Well, one thing is certain—Southern hair is a source of pride. If you’ve grown up in the South, you’ve heard it said, “The higher the hair, the closer to God!” Whether or not that is true, when it comes to hair—the bigger, the better.

2. “That wasn’t a very Christian thing to do.”

The Bible Belt. Home to “Back row Baptists” and devoted church ladies, the South is a hub of churchgoers. We all have a favorite Bible verse and story to tell about picking out an Easter “frock.”

3. “If you don’t have anything nice to say about anybody, come sit by me!”

We may go to Sunday School, but that doesn’t mean we’re perfect. “News” travels at the speed of light around a small, Southern town. This is largely accredited to phone lines of aunts and grandmas.

4. “I am an old, Southern woman, and I am supposed to wear funny clothes, ugly hats, and dig in the dirt.”

“My thumb is ‘greener’ than yours!” Green thumbs are commonplace in the South. Maybe your grandma’s garden is the envy of three counties! Whether it’s winning the blue ribbon at the fair for the prettiest produce or taking pride in your daylilies, in the South, we live close to the land.

5. “There is no such thing as natural beauty.”

A little lot of makeup never hurt anyone…

If you’re a woman in the South, the odds are you competed in a pageant before you could walk. The County Fair is the place for every mama in town to show off her “baby girl.”

6. “Nobody cries alone in my presence.”

We wear our hearts on our sleeves and the close-knit community of women in the South can’t be replaced.

7. “The only thing that separates us from the animals is our ability to accessorize!”

We’ve already covered big hair and pageantry, but there’s still more to go! Every proper Southern woman has her go-to strand of pearls!

8. “I try not to eat healthy food if I can possibly help it.”

A Southern diet may not be healthy, but it is certainly sweet! In the South, we indulge in sweet tea, fried chicken, and desserts made “from scratch.” Nothing beats home cooking.

9. “Pink is my signature color.”

Little girls in the South are rarely seen in anything other than pink before their first birthday. Frills and lace are the norm, and we wouldn’t have it any other way!

10. “That which does not kill us makes us stronger.”

Beneath the Southern drawl and pretty surface, women in the South are strong-willed, smart, and independent. Whatever life brings, they overcome every trial with dignity and grace.

11. “Smile! It increases your face value!”

You can’t help but smile when you’re surrounded by a passel of smart, Southern women.