Personally, even though there is no Crystal I can understand the concept why. Seeing as no female was ever placed in Gold and Silver original, and Kris came in afterwards, a new female might have made a better fit. Either way, I don't mind the new female and nor would I have mind if Kris was put in first.
However, the new female is really cute. Her overalls are something you don't always see every day and it simply gives her a style of her own. The long, extended socks are my only nitpick about her design, but after watching her OW sprite recently brought out her socks don't seem to be shown and the ribbon was brought out in great detail. Sugimori's art has improved over the years, and the new female is one of them. I don't think I'd crush her head against any truck, nor do I completely like her. Though, there is just this aspect of her that makes me interest her. I do see the combination of hair similarity with Kris, the brown appeal like May, and the similar collar of Leaf from FRLG, and I think it just gives the fans everything they might have enjoyed from the past female protagonists. Although she isn't perfect she isn't terrible, because I'm sure the art design for a new female player could have come out worse.