You don't necessarily need to "defend" yourself, but you should have mentioned something.
Maybe something like... "really? I believe I'd been changing for quite awhile now and have gotten quite a few compliments." Then just move on to the next topic. So you're not disagreeing with her and it shows that you have been changing for alot longer than she realizes.
M-43 W-40 2D - 9 and 5
Emotion, yet peace. Ignorance, yet knowledge. Passion, yet serenity. Chaos, yet harmony. Death, yet a new life.