I have had many of the above said to me. I've developed a rhino hide.
I've also had exactly the same thing said to me by two boyfriends, that I was 'beautiful at some angles'.
What the visual effect is, or rather was, at the other angles, they didn't expand on, but I'm pretty sure I know..!
Almost twenty years ago and before the days of Photoshop being widely used, a very very talented friend took some photos of me. I was so pleased at the cleverly lit (and angled!) results.
Another "friend" who has since moved away, thankfully, commented about them: "I don't think those are very good photos of you at all. They make you far better looking than you actually are."
So much for "the camera never lies", then. :D