You probably know of Bindi Irwin from her most recent endeavor as the winning contestant on the 2015 season of Dancing with the Stars. However, at the tender age of 18, she's already been through so much more than that.
Born on July 24, 1998, to Terri and Steve Irwin, Bindi has been a caring, loving soul since the very beginning. Her father Steve was the one and only Crocodile Hunter from Australia. Bindi first appeared on her dad's show at the young age of 2. Steve always taught Bindi to treat animals the same way that she herself would want to be treated, as well as to always do everything in her power to help them and raise awareness about them.
Then, in September of 2006, the unthinkable happened: Steve passed away after a tragic accident involving a freak attack from a usually docile stingray. He was only 44 years old and had so much left to offer the world and his family.
With a tragedy so heavy, it's a miracle that Bindi has turned out to be such a successful, kind, mature, compassionate, and talented young woman. She still has her mother and brother to help get through the hard times. These days, she's working on her own career helping animals, as well as carving her own place in the entertainment industry.
These 10 Bindi Irwin facts you didn't know will give you a greater insight into her life.
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Thumbnail Source: Wikimedia Commons / Bernard DUPONT
1. Bindi Irwin Had Never Worn High Heels Before "Dancing With The Stars"
According to US Weekly, Bindi had never worn high heels before she went on Dancing with the Stars. She apparently fell right down when she first tried them on, but she learned quickly, mastered the art of dancing in them, and as we all know, won the whole competition!
2. Bindi's Net Worth Is $3 Million
Between her child acting career and her TV appearances, Bindi is worth just about $3 million. Not bad for a young woman of 18 years. She's definitely got room to grow into her career, too!
3. Her Boyfriend Is A Professional Athlete
Chandler Powell, 20, has been a professional wakeboarder since 2012. He has his profession to thank for meeting his girlfriend in 2013.
He was in Australia for a competition and took a visit to the Australia Zoo where he got the chance to meet Bindi. He tracked down her contact info and the two of them stayed in touch. Soon enough, they found out that they were soul mates.
4. Steve Named Her After A Crocodile
Bindi's dad, Steve, was known for his love of crocodiles, along with all other wildlife. He lived, breathed, and finally met his end working with animals. Bindi was named after one of her father's favorite crocodiles at the Australia Zoo.
This may seem a bit strange to the average person, but in a family that dedicates so much heart and soul to wildlife, it's just about as sweet as it gets.
5. Whenever She Sees a Crocodile, She Thinks Of Her Father
In the touching eulogy she gave for her dad, she only had good things to say about the life he chose. She was not bitter toward the animal that killed her father, and she only advocated for further work to preserve wildlife:
He took me and my brother and my mum with him all the time. We filmed together, caught crocodiles together, and loved being in the bush together. I don’t want Daddy’s passion to ever end. I want to help endangered wildlife just like he did. I had the best Daddy in the whole world and I will miss him every day.When I see a crocodile I will always think of him, and I know that Daddy made this zoo so everyone could come and learn to love all the animals. Daddy made this place his whole life. Now it’s our turn to help Daddy. Thank you.6. She Has A Fitness DVD
Bindi released a fitness DVD in 2006 called Bindi KidFitness with Steve Irwin and the Crocmen. She always believed in staying healthy, even at such a young age.
7. She Plans To Someday Manage The Australia Zoo
In an interview with Australian news, Bindi said that she is looking toward a future as a manager of the Australia Zoo, where she works already. She's been performing and working at the family-run institution for years, but it's clear to her that her career there isn't going away.
Maybe she will continue to delve into show business as well, but her heart lies where her father's always was: with the animals.
8. All Of Her "Dancing With The Stars" Money Went To Help Wildlife
Reportedly winning $360,000 on the show, Bindi never had any plans to keep the money for herself. She put it all back into her family's foundation, Wildlife Warriors, which has conservation efforts all across the world.
9. She Wants To Grow Up To Be Just Like Her Mother
In her interview with News.com, she explained what it was like to go through such a tragedy in the family, and that her mom, Terri Irwin, and her brother, Robert, were there to remind one another of the good things in each day.
Bindi said she sees her mom as the perfect person to carry on her father's legacy at the zoo and beyond, and that she wants to grow up to be just as loving and positive as Terri.
10. She's Starred In Movies And TV Shows
Bindi delved into the TV and film industry at an early age. You may remember her from Free Willy: Escape from Pirate's Cove from 2010, or perhaps Return to Nim's Island as recently as 2013.
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