The character of Shelby Eatonton—married name, Shelby Eatenton-Latcherie—remains fairly consistent throughout all of the stage and screen iterations of Steel Magnolias.

Shelby is the youngest woman in Steel Magnolias, described as 25 years old in the character descriptions in the play. She's the daughter of M’Lynn Eatenton, who is somewhat overprotective of Shelby because of Shelby's health concerns, specifically her diabetes:

M'LYNN. You should not be on your feet all day. You should be kinder to your circulatory system. (act 1, scene 1)

Shelby is close to her mother, but she nevertheless believes that she's at a point in her life when she needs to pull away from her and be on her own.

Shelby is a pediatric nurse who loves children, and she hopes to have children of her own after she marries lawyer Jackson Latcherie. She also hopes that her marriage with Jackson will be less contentious than her parents' marriage. She says that her mother and father are always "fighting like cats and dogs" over one thing or another.

In some ways, Shelby appears child-like because she has a very youthful and positive attitude which is manifested in her effervescent personality. Shelby always looks on the bright side of life, even though the entire period when her health deteriorates because of her diabetes and kidney failure:

M'LYNN. After the transplant failed …They thought they could correct things with a little surgery. As they wheeled her down, she said, "Mama, I'm going to feel so good when this is over." (act 2, scene 2)

Shelby is truly a "steel magnolia," who appears delicate as a flower on the outside, but inwardly her mind and spirit are as tough and strong as steel.