A Dash Of Southern Charm: "Glamour Belles" on Lifetime

Have you ever seen the film Steel Magnolias?  Even if you haven't, the title itself says all that you need to know about southern women.  Gentle, kind, sensitive, strong, capable.

I know many will pshaw the idea that a southern woman is raised differently than a woman in any other part of the country, but I'd like to kindly (as is the southern way) pshaw your pshaw.

From the time we are very small, many things are drilled into the southern girl's brain.  Manners are of utmost importance, but personality and appearance can't be far behind.  While many women are raised under the ideal of not being concerned with what others think of them, southern women are taught to always be aware of what others think of them and to always present their best selves when possible, both physically and mentally.  Don't be fooled by our sweet drawls and heavy accents - southern women are educated, both traditionally and in the ways of society.

Yes ma'am and no ma'am (as well as the sir equivalent) are an unapologetic part of our vocabularies.  It is my automatic response to acknowledge someone that I respect as ma'am or sir, or even someone that I don't know but that I'm being courteous with.  My Connecticut-bred fiance' once marveled at the fact that I addressed the woman who was bagging our groceries in the market as "ma'am", whereas I didn't even give it a second thought.  It is a part of who I am.

While the ways of the south may seem outdated to some, I often wonder if our world wouldn't be a bit kinder, more polite and more apt to savor each and every moment if everyone had a dash of the south in them.  Don't worry, though, we who call ourselves southern have also changed with the times.  There is a new Southern Belle, if you will; one who has embraced her nuanced upbringing and gracefully combined it with the ways of a modern professional society. She is usually wildly successful, personable, and equally as wise.

Meet Paige, your modern southern belle.

Paige is the owner of Joann's - a dress store that she purchased from her mother, Joann, 6 years ago.  Paige has the personality of my own mother, with the accent and graceful southern nuances of my stepmother - a pretty incredible combination.  I have the feeling that if I lived in Union City, Tennessee, I would want to be friends with Paige - she is definitely someone you want to hang out with on a girls night.

She also happens to be the star of Lifetime's newest reality show, "Glamour Belles" which Premieres April 6 at 10 pm/9c.

I just got finished watching a special sneak peek of the show, and I was hooked.  When the first episode ended, I checked the DVD to make sure it didn't include any additional episodes.  I wanted more.

Glamour Belles covers the day-to-day happenings in Joann's - from a woman looking for a dress for her wedding reception, to a teenage beauty queen who needs help choosing the perfect dress.  By itself these things sound mundane, but add in the southern flair and enjoyable cast of characters (including Paige's mother Joann, the original owner, whose interactions with her daughter, Paige, had me guffawing out loud, recalling similar interactions with my own mother) and you've got a real winner.  The show will have you laughing out loud within the first 7 minutes, I promise.

Think Paige wants to choose a wedding dress for me for my fall nuptials? (Paige! Email me!) I'm tempted to drive up to Union City, Tennessee to find out!

Be sure you tune in on April 6th to check out this hilarious cast of characters and to enjoy a little southern charm - all from the comfort of your own couch.