Something that really sticks with me about Steel Magnolias is just how human it is, the characters feel so grounded and their relationships so genuine in their authenticity. At it’s core it is a story about women and the unbreakable bonds that form between them. And it is because of this that I wanted to take direct inspiration from the real women that inspired this story, specifically Susan Harling Robinson, the sister of Robert Harling and direct inspiration for Shelby. I also took inspiration from the women in my life, with photos of my mother being used in several of my research slides. I then combined all of this with popular culture from the 1980s, referencing various famous women of the era, with my director specifically asking to reference Dianne Carroll for Clairee.