Hey everyone,

I seem to have had this problem for a very very long time. I just turned 20 years old and am what you would call 'cute'. I have a little bit of extra fat on my body which I'm working on getting rid of (I work out every day and have lost about four kilograms so far!). Note that I'm technically not overweight - Im well into the healthy weight range - but I am certainly not fit or skinny. I am an hourglass figure, definitely not petite but not Kim Kardashian level either. I'm 5 foot 3, pretty short (which also contributes to me not looking too skinny), and I have a round face. All of these things combine to make me look 'babyish'. If it helps knowing exactly what body type I have, here is a photo of Bindi Irwin. We have pretty much the same body, but I have a tiny bit more hip fat.

I have a sister who is three years younger than me, and everyone thinks she is older than me. We're the same height but I think it's to do with the fact that she has a more oval face (still round though) and she looks a little slimmer than me. She also doesn't take care of her skin so that might contribute to people's perceptions of our age as well?

About a year ago I had to get my photo taken for an ID card for a place I was going to start working at part time. I went into the security office and the man (I'm guessing 50's or 60's) began writing down all my information. Then he said, "so how old are you? Like 13?" I didn't know whether to take it as a compliment or not. I just kind of stuttered out "No... I'm 19" and he apologised profusely and looked embarrassed.

I don't wear make up but am trying to put on lipstick and BB cream now, as well as perfume. Back with the security guy incident, I wasn't putting on any make up at all at the time. I remember the shirt I was wearing - a pink and purple floral top. I can understand why I might have looked childish.

I work with kids and have consistently gotten kids asking me how old I am. I love playing with them so I ask them to guess and the lowest I've gotten is "fifteen". When I tell my parents about this, my mother says that i should be flattered because it means I look youthful. Don't get me wrong, I'm glad I look youthful, but I'd rather look '18 year-old youthful' than 'young teen youthful'.

Apart from working out, does anyone have any tips on how I can transition from looking 'cute' to 'sexy'? I wear a different hairstyle now that makes my face look less round (I wear it out with two thin strands on both sides of my head tied back). I also wear different earrings now, changing them whenever I go out depending on the occasion, which I never did before.

Any and all tips and advice are welcome!! Thanks :)

Edit: fixed spelling & added more info