I used to have a "friend" like raindropvampire is describing--except I think she felt I upped her property value by putting more attention onto her. To be fair, she was incredibly pretty. I'm not a hag, but I was outright ignored when we were together. I was too naive to figure out that she'd only hang out with me by ourselves and only in inconspicuous places. She ended up marrying the lead singer of a very prominent Christian rock band (she "forgot" her birth control, thus getting pregnant with their first baby). She was a horrid girl. But pretty, so no one minded.

Anyway, I have always had body image issues. I think some people are jerks and judge a book by its cover, but most aren't. In the case mentioned in the OP, I think it's cultural. When I was in my early 20's, I worked with some Eastern Europeans who would always tell me, "You have such a pretty face! Big eyes! But *tsk* way too fat!" It stung so much, especially since I was still in the throes of an eating disorder at the time. I wish I looked now like I did back then, back when they thought I was "too fat!" I am 5'10", and was about a US size 14/L--and solid, because I was a runner. I'm now an 18/2XL. I judge myself harshly, but I don't think most others do.