Why blatantly insult someone, when you can disguise it as a compliment? Intentional or not, some people have the art of backhanded compliments down. Like supermodel Iman for example. She told Parade Magazine this week [1]:

Mrs. Obama is not a great beauty. But she is so interesting looking and so bright. That will always take you farther. When you’re a great beauty, it’s always downhill for you. If you’re someone like Mrs. Obama, you just get better with age.

Who wants to be a great beauty anyway, when you can be, uh, interesting looking? Other backhanded compliments include: "You age so well." Or, "You look great! Did you lose weight?"

Have you received any memorable critical compliments?

Source [2]