After a glow up, people treat me so much better… and I kind of hate that I enjoy it.

I’m 22M and work at Walmart, and every single day I get reminded that “pretty privilege” feels very real.

Growing up during puberty, I felt incredibly insecure. My body changed in ways that made me feel awkward, invisible, and honestly kind of unattractive altogether.

For years, I genuinely thought I was just hideous and that people barely noticed me.

For a little while though, I’ve realized something changed. People interact with me very differently now. Strangers start conversations more, people seem friendlier, I catch people staring a lot, older women flirt with me fairly often, and sometimes people even go out of their way to help me for no real reason. Some interactions have been really nice, while others have honestly felt kind of strange or uncomfortable.

It kind of feels like being the main character in a movie in some ways. It’s like everybody I pass by just has to look, and at this point I’ve just accepted this but it’s also kinda weird. I’ve only been working here for 1.5 weeks and I’ve had dozens of interesting encounters. I mean, every day there’s something that happens.

What messes with my head is this: part of me feels like this is unfair, because I know there are probably people being overlooked the same way I once felt overlooked. But if I’m being honest… part of me likes it too.

I feel bad… because I can totally see how life gets easier. You just become “lucky” because everyone will bend over backwards for you. It’s like getting the golden ticket. So many more things are easier. It’s like people are gifting me their time.

After feeling invisible for years, it feels good to feel seen. At the same time, it’s weird realizing how much appearance seems to shape how people treat you.

Has anyone else experienced this after a glow up? Did it mess with your head too?