Quote - I like to position the eyes so they are looking at me if it is a portrait or pinup
type picture.  Most people look at the camera if they know their picture is
being taken.  Don't change her pose and try moving your character's eyes
so she looks like she is looking back at you and see how that looks.  That too
avoids the staring straight ahead look. And it makes the character look like
she is intelligent enough to be aware of her surroundings, in this case you
taking her picture.  Look at your avatar.  The little girl looks sassy because
she is looking at you and saying "Look at me!"  She has more life than
the picture of the girl just staring blankly off into space even though she
is more cartoony looking.

I don't want this particular image's  message to the observer to be "look at me".  The full image is of an angel in prayer,  so I want her staring up into space and not at the camera.  It's just hard to get her eyes to look like she's actually "alive" while doing that :(

I'll try the various suggestions given, thank you all :)

"It is good to see ourselves as others see us. Try as we may, we are never
able to know ourselves fully as we are, especially the evil side of us.
This we can do only if we are not angry with our critics but will take in good
heart whatever they might have to say." - Ghandi