All the Yellowjackets “queens” all had different ways of leadership.
Jackie influenced people because of the comfort that she offered. Her pep talks, doing ally’s makeup while comforting her, making Misty feel pretty for the first time, hugging Shauna, giving them ways to still be kids I.e the seance.
Lottie influenced people because of the hope she gave to people. Her ‘circles’ that made everyone feel better, giving travis the hope that Javi is still alive, ‘getting’ food for them by stabbing the bear and ‘making the birds fall’, giving them the hope that Shauna’s gonna make it through her pregnancy.
Nat influenced people because of the sense of community she gave people. She got them out a painful and dark winter into a flourishing spring. She taught Gen how to hunt, she got them into a state of playing games and creating festivals, she said that as their leader she can’t take away their only hope of escaping even though she thought keeping coach Ben imprisoned like that was wrong.
THAT is why nobody accepted Shauna as their leader. Because she represent fear and dictatorship. She might have been the antler queen, but she was never their queen.
The reason Shauna is so bitter towards Lottie in the adult timeline is because Lottie was passively the reason she turned into the monster she was in the wilderness.
Lottie was the one who let Shauna tap into her anger and madness by allowing Shauna to beat her up. Lottie sides with Shauna during the coach Ben vote, everyone switches and Shauna starts feeling more powerful. Lottie makes her the new leader. Lottie killed the hiker guy, Shauna makes sure she doesn’t face any consequences. Lottie says she wants to stay, Shauna speaks up, then forces them all to stay. Lottie says they should hunt, Shauna goes into a frenzy, kills Mari and becomes antler queen. Shauna counts to Mari’s death and when she stops? Lottie picks up where she left off.
Lottie reminds her of how crazy she went in the wilderness and Shauna hates her for that.