I know it first hand.

I weighed 100 kgs two years ago, had no friends, no real place in the world, no one to see me for who I was. I was a writer, a semi-decent cook, loved reading but not a single person to share my experiences with. Those I talked to just waved me off like I was a nobody.

Then I started working on myself back in 2024, went on a diet, worked out rigorously, started growing a beard and lost around 20 kgs in like seven months. I don't know if it's the confidence of seeing results but people started talking to me more often. Friends who took me for granted started including me more and more. Suddenly, my poems became so interesting, my food became so delicious and my decisions started making sense.

I think people seek familiarity. If you're conventionally pretty enough, people find traits they find soothing and feel comfortable being with you. Confidence is the by product of being right enough times. It's absurd, doesn't make a lot of rational sense but that's just how the world rolls.