It's true for both Men and Women, usually you can't develop chemistry or feelings for someone if you don't like their appearance first (or second if you're demisexual).

I'm not saying it's the only aspect that matters because a certain degree of Personality match is often needed, but it's still the biggest and (usually) first aspect that is judged by a possible partner.

If you're a Man, Money and Status will make Women interested but they won't make you genuinely desirable if they don't find you attractive, in which case you can only enstabilish a platonic relationship at best. If you're a Woman they straight up don't matter most always.

I'd argue that this behaviour is not only reserved for the sexual sphere. Humans are visuals and usually they relate to things if they see beauty or cuteness in them, this is why most actors and singers have to be good looking or why humans tend to like cute animals and dislike ugly ones. More generally it also explains why a product's design is important for its sale even if it doesn't add pragmatic value.