I agree that the initial pose was awkward, and it's still a bit unnatural even in the latest version. What xegnma did that I think is important is (s)he gave her a reason for that quite prominent lean. It's a rather extreme lean, and without a purpose for bending over so far I think the pose will read as strange. In xegnma's edit, all of the body language makes sense, it's all interrelated and works to a common goal. In your most recent, the body language seems unrelated. one arm is on the hip, another raised high for some reason, one knee points out a little bit just because, and then that lean-
The hand on the knee just makes for a more solid, sturdy pose. Of course it isn't the only possible fix, just (probably) the easiest.