pick-me

A pick-me is someone, typically a woman, who seeks validation from a particular group by distancing herself from others like her.

The term implies performative self-deprecation or criticism of other women to appear more appealing to men: She's such a pick-me, always saying she's "not like other girls".

The phrase comes from the desperate plea to be chosen.

As an adjective, pick-me describes this behavior: That was a very pick-me thing to say.