I can sort of relate, Kaycie, but I've decided to change things up. I put my picture up as an avatar, and have several others in my albums. It's different for me, being a guy (in the safety aspect), but I figure letting people get to know my soul without misconceptions of my appearance might be slightly helpful.
Soeaking from personal experience, and more in dating connotation than friendship, it's super disappointing getting to know and
like someone non - physically only to find them completely unattractive physically. -_-0
I know it sounds fickle, but I've grown up enough and dealt with the hurt, rejection, and my own touts and feelings enough to say that while what you look like shouldn't matter ideally, it does in our world. Especially when we're talking more than friendship.
Anyway, sorry for that rabbit trail... Just wanted to say originally that I feels ya, KC, and can relate to your experience. Not sure what the 'right' answer is, but i've recently changed my approach. *shrugs*