https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0022440510000154

This study examined the relations between facial attractiveness, aggression, and popularity in adolescence to determine whether facial attractiveness would buffer against the negative effects of aggression on popularity.

We collected ratings of facial attractiveness from standardized photographs, and teachers provided information on adolescents' social aggression, physical aggression, and popularity for 143 seventh graders (70 girls). Regression analyses indicated that facial attractiveness moderated the relations between both types of aggression and popularity.

Aggression was associated with a reduction in popularity for adolescents low on facial attractiveness. However, popularity did not decrease as a function of aggression for adolescents high on facial attractiveness. Aggressors with high facial attractiveness may experience fewer negative consequences to their social standing, thus contributing to higher overall rates of aggression in school settings.

The researchers also found no significant effects in regards to the gender of participants.

We did not find any significant effects or interactions involving gender. Although boys are more physically aggressive than girls, ... facial attractiveness moderated the relation between physical aggression and popularity for both boys and girls

The researchers explanation for these findings:

One hypothesis for these findings is that adolescents with facial attractiveness may be able to maintain a high social status despite behaving aggressively because such negative behavior is incongruent with the beauty-is-good stereotype .... In attempting to resolve this cognitive inconsistency, adolescents may be more likely to attribute such behavior to environmental variables such as a bad mood rather than to stable dispositions, and in turn, evaluate an aggressor with facial attractiveness more leniently, helping to preserve his or her social status.

The other, simpler explanation they gave is:

Possessing peer-valued characteristics (e.g., attractiveness) may protect the social status of aggressive youth.