Personality: Areesa is a lioness ruled by wanderlust. She loves to explore new places and meet new lions. She is very proud, stubborn and has a temper. Areesa hates tradition and is never one to agree to something just because others before her have. She loves to hunt and chases after a life of fun. 

Relations: Mtoto (father), Kiara (second cousin), Gainell + Elewisa + Lapin + Khan (third cousins), multiple half-brothers from her father’s side (she is the only daughter). 

Basic Information: Areesa was the last born cub to the lion Mtoto, and also his only daughter. She grew up in the pride lands under the care of Kiara and playing with her third cousins. Because her father was so old, he eventually moved back to his sons’ pride, taking Areesa with him. Areesa was then raised with far stricter rules imposed on her by her much older brothers. Still, she never forgot the fun times she spent as a cub with her third cousins. 

When she was an adolescent, her wanderlust was magnified, and she decided to return to the pridelands. As she did not know the way, she became lost after a few days. Eventually she ran into an older male lion. He put on his best show and convinced Areesa that he loved her and wanted her to stay with him and help care for his cub, and being the naive and young lioness she was, Areesa agreed. At first everything seemed fine, but eventually she began to see how awful the lion was, not just to her but also to his cub. Areesa took the first chance she could and fled his lands alongside the cub, Ophelia. 

Eventually the two managed to reach the pridelands just as a new king, Lapin was being crowned. Areesa put Ophelia into the care of Gainell, and the two became good friends thanks to having Ophelia to look after. Areesa essentially became a pseudo-mother to the cub. 

Areesa spent the rest of her time with Elewisa, hunting, exploring and playing just like the days of old. 

Trivia: 

• Her name means “bride” in Arabic. 
• Her favorite pastime is hunting with her third cousin Elewisa.
• Areesa has a soft spot for cubs.
• She has scars on her green eye.
• She has one green and one red eye.
• Only one of her paws is colored. 

Summary-Relation: Areesa, the daughter of Mtoto who is Simba’s cousin, grew up in the pridelands amongst her third cousins as a cub until she moved away for the health of her father, only to then return to the pride lands as an adult and reside with her cousins. 

Original photos belong to Disney!