Grand-mère

Personality

Clarisse, referred to as Grandmère by Mia, is constantly portrayed as an elegant and picky woman, seemingly caring nothing more than superficial looks, fashion, and making connections with the rich and influential people of the world. Clarisse is somewhat old-fashioned in her ways of speech, quite insensitive to others' troubles, and very proud and possessive of her royal stature. Mia often writes that she hates Clarisse throughout the series, and Clarisse, too, is often quite harsh on Mia and often intentionally omits Mia's mother's surname (Thermopolis).

Eventually, they do develop a close grandmother-granddaughter relationship, with Clarisse giving Mia key advices at various points and supporting her (often to Mia's embarrassment) by conspiring with Mia's friend, Lily. She is a key person in Mia's royal education, leading princess lessons (which Mia detests) after school for Mia throughout the series. During her mostly stays in New York Clarisse stays at the Plaza Hotel Suite, although she does stay in various other locations, such as Mia and Helen's loft during a citywide demonstration by hotel workers, as well as Four Seasons.

Clarisse is very fond of her miniature poodle, Rommel, who accompanies her all the time, although Rommel has an obsessive-compulsive disorder of licking his fur out that makes him look like a giant rat. She's a native French speaker, and lives in Miragnac, castle in southern France, surrounded by European socialites. Her main competition is Contessa Elena Trevani. She has tattooed eyeliner, and also picks her eyebrows out every morning, and draws them on again, giving her a very surprised look when she does not.