Consuelo Vanderbilt Balsan, once a society fixture, is the real life inspiration behind one of the central characters in Season 3 of "The Gilded Age."

In The Gilded Age Season 3 Episode 4, Gladys considers calling it off in a tense, but tender, scene with her father. She wonders if there’s any way out of the massive society wedding, but George explains that if she does so, her reputation will be ruined. Gladys should have spoken up earlier.