What challenges did Cleopatra face?

To tell the truth she did not face a great deal of "hardships" but had to deal with some important problems. She had married her little brother, whom she wanted out of the way and found the occasion to do so through her relationship with Caesar. When he was killed she was faced with the problem of keeping Egypt independent and herself on the throne, she once again managed to do so by her love-affair with Marc Anthony. When they lost the battle against Octavian and her lover committed suicide, she knew it was over and preferred to kill herself before being dragged by Octavian in his Triumph procession in Rome.

She lived in luxury, was powerful, intelligent and attractive. Was loved by two of the most powerfull man of her time. I would not say that she had a very hard life, only her end was tragic.