Some people on Instagram commented that my lioness looks like a cub, so to clarify, I created a comparison drawing of what she would look like as a cub. She is, in fact, a young adult, not a cub. Her smaller size compared to other lionesses her age stems from her challenging upbringing. She grew up solitary, without the safety and resources of a pride. This lack of protection meant limited access to food and more struggles for survival, which affected her growth and development. She didn’t have the same opportunities to grow as large and strong as lionesses raised within the support of a pride. Despite her smaller size, she is a fully mature young adult.