DWTS Champ Bravely Opens Up About ‘Scary’ Time in Her Life

Season 21 “Dancing With the Stars” champ Bindi Irwin opened up about losing her dad when she was just 8 years old.

“After losing Dad, I was so worried about losing Mom and Robert that I had a lot of separation anxiety,” Irwin said on the February 3 episode of the “A Life of Greatness” podcast.

“It’s scary when you lose the strongest person in your life,” she continued.

Steve Irwin died in a freak accident when he was attacked by a stingray while snorkeling in Australia. He was just 44 years old at the time. In addition to Bindi, Irwin was survived by his wife, Terri, his son, Robert.

Bindi Irwin Credits Her Mom for Helping Her Through the Challenging Time

Losing a parent is undoubtedly hard and it was especially challenging for both Bindi and Robert Irwin, who were both so young when Steve Irwin died.

In her interview on “A Life of Greatness,” Bindi Irwin spoke highly of her mom, Terri.

“My mom is the reason Robert and I are who we are,” she said. “No matter what was happening in the world, she was there for us. And I don’t know how she did that when dad passed away, because the whole world shifted and landed on her shoulders and yet, through it all, she was there for me and Robert — and still is, emotionally and to help us navigate,” she added.

Bindi Irwin also gives her mom credit for her “strength.”

“I don’t know where she found that strength, but I’m in awe of her every day,” she said.

Bindi Irwin Keeps Her Dad’s Memory Alive in Various Ways

Irwin has done her best to keep her father’s memory alive over the years.

“To the world, he will be remembered as the greatest Wildlife Warrior. To our family, he will be remembered as our world,” Bindi captioned an Instagram post in November 2023.

Not only does she post about him on social media, but she also teaches her daughter, Grace, about her granddad, which has been really special. Moreover, Irwin says that her daughter often reminds her of Steve.

“I see so much of dad and our beautiful daughter Grace,” Irwin told E! News in May 2024. “She has so much fiery, passionate energy about her. She just is a determined woman and she never stops moving. I mean, she’s 3 so she is a very busy girl,” she continued, joking, “[Grace] believes that she runs Australia Zoo.”