When a character's thematics don't match their playstyle

Nidalee comes from the jungle. Her theme is a tribal/primitive female with a spear and a loin cloth.

In game she's one of the worst options for jungling. Period. She can't clear well before 6, she can't duel, she has no tank, she has no CC, she's annoying but not a traditional "carry" champ, with the bush nerfs her passive was indirectly nerfed a little, and she doesn't do well without gold.

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Can someone please explain this disconnect to me? Shouldn't the bloody champ who lived and thrived in a jungle be able to play well as a jungler?