The Princess Diaries (2001)

The Princess Diaries (2001) is an American comedy film that follows the coming-of-age journey of Mia Thermopolis. Mia, a student at Grove High School, lives with her single mother Helen in a renovated firehouse in San Francisco. She struggles with a fear of public speaking and has a crush on popular classmate Josh Bryant, who is dating Lana Thomas. Her only companions are outcasts Lilly Moscovitz and her brother Michael, who secretly likes Mia. However, everything changes when Mia’s estranged paternal grandmother Clarisse informs her that she is the sole heir to the throne of Genovia following her father’s passing. With determination, Clarisse takes on the task of molding Mia into a polished princess fit to rule the kingdom.

Initially overwhelmed by the discovery, Mia is hesitant to attend her grandmother’s ‘princess lessons’. However, after some convincing from her mother, she agrees to go on the condition that she won’t have to make a decision until the Genovian Independence Day Ball in three weeks. With a glamorous makeover and a limousine driven by Joe, the queen’s head of security and confidant who quickly becomes a father figure to her, Mia’s schoolmates treat her differently. As her schedule becomes increasingly hectic, it puts a strain on her relationship with Lilly. To ease her best friend’s concerns, Mia confides in Lilly and swears her to secrecy. Unfortunately, Paolo- the hairdresser responsible for Mia’s transformation- sells the secret to the press and paparazzi start relentlessly pursuing Mia once her true identity as a princess is revealed.