I doubt that there was an "original" Southern Belle, a woman so accomplished and pretty that people coined that term because of her. I think it rather is a description of a stereotype. A rather desirable stereotype, if you ask me .
Wikipedia, never failing to comment on each and everything, says:
Origin[edit]
The image of the Southern belle developed in the South during the antebellum era. It was based on the young, unmarried woman in the plantation-owning upper class of Southern society.[1]
I doubt that there was an "original" Southern Belle, a woman so accomplished and pretty that people coined that term because of her. I think it rather is a description of a stereotype. A rather desirable stereotype, if you ask me .
Thanks Andrea! I definitely think you're right about the term referencing a stereotype and not a specific lady (although that would be grand). Northern ladies were often referred to as Northern beauties during the antebellum period. Belles and beauties - it's all the same. BTW, I consider you an honorary Southern belle!
I hope not!!
I don't want to see what would come next then...
Edit: ooops its the one tiny letter that makes all the difference! I thought you had written "may we call this era ante-bellum" to compliment all the pretty young girls growing up now to become a Southern Belle, but announcing another war at the same time - that I did not want to see! But you wrote anti-bellum, meaning pacifist, right?
My apologies, @Southern Unionist!!