When I was growing up, I was hard-pressed to find a main character who was like me.
I did ONCE, in the Vampire Kisses Series by Ellen Schreiber. Just once.
All the FMCs in books I liked were fit and cool and made fun of the girls who wore "too much makeup" and were meek little mice. Most of the books I wound up gravitating towards had male MCs, because I related to them better.
So what happened once I had the chance to make my own FMC?
Angelica Cross happened.
Curvy, not petite, Goth, wears a crap ton of makeup and short skirts, unapologetic in who she is and what her purpose is. Confident. Brave. A survivor of multiple traumas. Intelligent. She doesn't NEED anyone; her loved ones are there because she WANTS them to be.
She was the person I WISHED I could become when I was 21 and finishing STAKE-OUT. Writing her gave me confidence in the real world.