steel magnolia

colloquial A woman who at once exhibits traditionally feminine qualities as well as indefatigable strength, determination, and resolve. Primarily heard in US. My grandma was a real steel magnolia, let me tell ya. She was a lady through and through, but when she set her mind to doing something, nothing on God's green earth would stop her. The candidate is aiming to be a steel magnolia in the eyes of voters, to show the nation that a woman in a dress and makeup can be as tough a politician as anyone else.