First Among Equals

Likings at the workplace are very subjective. But they can make all the difference in someone feeling good about their work environment or feeling awful about it.
Im particularly referring to liking for certain people for no obvious reason- THEY ARE SIMPLY LIKED and PREFERRED OVER OTHERS. So even if they dont make any significant, worthwhile contribution to the work, they will get undue importance and attention. Interestingly this is not reserved for unmarried girls. The young married girls are equally strong contenders for this liking.
So while Im slogging my butt off, behaving politely with my superiors and not doing anything, whatsoever to make them feel insecure, making noteworthy contributions by doing quality work, I dont get even a fraction of the attention given to the subject of the HODs liking.
Im sure many of my creditworthy counterparts face this in their organizations. Has anyone been able to tackle this.
My strategy so far has been to be nice t this subject of liking. I infact join him politely when he is showering his love and affection for her and she kind of basks in all the glory. The reason for this is that he gets quite protective of her if ever a snide remark is passed or if she is made the butt of a mean joke.
But honestly I feel absolutely irritated about it. Why should there be a first among equals at the workplace? Its one of the most demotivating truths dominating workplaces today