People
She came to admire him so much that his love for her affected her own self-esteem: She liked herself better because of him.
— Carl Sagan ‧ Contact
Behind the line May contain spoilers.
Our reading
An editorial interpretation.
This describes admiration turning into a kind of mirror. She respected him so much that being loved by him lifted her own view of herself, and she ended up liking herself more because of him. Being valued by someone you value can change how you see yourself.
Context reviewed