Traded on looks

Has anyone heard of this? I got asked if I have ever "Traded on looks?" by a man who is a bit of an arrogant person in his everyday life. I had no idea what he was trying to say. What does this mean? Thanks!

It means to use your physical appearance to achieve some goal. When stopped for speeding, the beautiful girl traded on her looks to avoid getting a ticket.

RRC is correct, and also correct in using it with a personal pronoun. People don't just trade on looks, they trade on their own looks. I suppose you could say, "She traded on her daughter's good looks," but even then, the looks are those of someone in particular.
SS

Sarah Palin.