You act.  Act like a totally confident expert.  Act like someone who isn’t afraid of anything or anyone.  Act like someone who has no vulnerabilities.

If this is the way you want to be, then what you need is an audience, not a friend.  An audience will give you the attention, the applause.

But a friend needs to know your weaknesses, your flaws, your vulnerabilities.  For those are the invitation he/she needs, to be real.   This is how he truly knows you.  A friend who knows your flaws will not love you less, for they also know your strengths, and they accept the fascinating work of art they know you are.