As Dancing with the Stars comes to an end, and with it Bindi Irwin’s incredible journey from a Khaki-clad girl, to an inspiring woman full of substance and grace.
The Queenslander hasn’t only made her late dad, Steve Irwin, proud but the whole of Australia too as she heads into the grand final! On Monday’s show, Bindi landed perfect scores in before of her dances, meaning she will glide on in to the grand finale on Tuesday evening LA time.
There is yet to be single week were Bindi hasn’t left the world in awe of her courage – it’s easy to forget that prior to entering the competition she had never even worn heels before, let alone danced in them.
“It’s so different than anything I’ve ever done. I am used to wrangling crocodiles,” she told the Today Show.
10 weeks later Bindi has stood the test of time topping the leader board almost every week along with the partner and friend, Derek Hough, and now it’s all come down to this.
“I can’t believe that I have been blessed enough to make it to the finals of Dancing With The Stars,” she wrote on social media ahead of the finale.
“Living here in LA for the last 3 months, dancing every day, has been such an experience. Tonight will be extraordinary night, I would like to thank you all for your amazing support and love.
“I have dedicated this entire journey to all of you and my beautiful family. My mum, my brother and my dad,” she added.
In celebration of Bindi Irwin’s time on the hugely popular reality show, we look back on her stunning journey, in pictures.
Bindi Irwin nails her first dances in the finale
On Monday night’s first-round finales Bindi and Derek’s quickstep and their freestyle dance landed them perfect scores. Overcome with emotion, the wildlife warrior was moved to tears over the exciting news. On Tuesday evening, she’ll perform for the very last time in a bid for the DWTS crown!
“When I first heard the news that Bindi was going to be on Dancing with the Stars, I was absolutely ecstatic. I’m so proud of her, because every time she steps onto the dance floor she always has this amazing presence.” Bindi’s brother revealed and we couldn’t agree more!
Bindi Irwin nails the salsa
“I just want to make sure I do good stuff for her, because she definitely has what it takes to go all away,” Derek Hough revealed to the cameras about his beloved dance partner.
Bindi Irwin channels Grace Kelly
Week eight saw Bindi having to deal with the intense burdens of the competition, “it’s a lot of pressure, and I have so many dances to learn and there’s like this pain that rises up into my chest and I’m just like really, really worried.”
The 17-year-old got evil in week seven as she went with a vampire inspired dance. But how did someone so kind deliver such a dark performance? “One quote defines my entire life, ‘never confuse kindness for weakness,’ I’m nice, but I’m strong.”
Bindi and Derek nailed the Dirty Dancing lift in week six earning them a perfect score. “I have honestly never been more nervous in my entire life,” Derek admitted after the performance.
Bindi Irwin does it again
“Bindi Irwin is a real life Disney Princess,” the show’s host, Erin Andrews revealed about our stunning Bindi after her Cha Cha.
“When she first started, she walked into the room, she had never worn heels in her life, never danced in her life. And the fact that she learned that dance in two days… I’m in absolute awe of this woman,” Derek Hough gushed about Bindi, pictured with her boyfriend Chandler Powell on the left and Derek on the right, after their performance in week 3.
Week two saw a more edgy side of the wildlife warrior who quipped in rehearsals, “my kind of music, truthfully, but no one knows this, is heavy metal.”
In a dance that was the most heart-warming tribute to her dad, Steve Irwin Bindi revealed, “It’s been nine years and I’ve never really dwelled on that point when he passed away so I think that I’m ready to tell that story.”
Bindi’s first ever dance was crocodile inspired, of course! As she hugged her dance partner Derek after she admitted: “that right there, just changed my life.”
Bindi’s Path to the Finals!
