[JDCookMS]

.....are there still traditional southern belles? I'm from Mississippi, but from my understanding a southern belle is: a beautiful, upperclass lady, she has perfect manners and refrains from any unpleasant talk, she always wears a dress (she would never wear pants), she is always polite to everyone, etc.

That being said, in modern usage, a belle is simply a beautiful woman and typically involves being present into society...so, your typical prom queen would be a belle.