Steven Irwin was the greatest man Bindi has ever known – he was courageous, full of love and her living, breathing superhero, so when she lost him back in 2006 after he passed away from a stingray attack, the grief she felt was crippling.
“After Dad passed away it was really, really tough. Some days you’d have really hard days and it was kind of tough to get out of bed in the morning,” the wildlife warrior revealed to Sunday Style Magazine.
Not one to mince her words Bindi went on to explain about her heartbreaking loss: “As a little kid, I remember people coming up to me and saying, ‘I’m so sorry [for your loss], sweetheart, but time heals all wounds.’”
She adds: “There really isn’t a greater lie. It’s just not true. It’s like losing a part of your heart. And when you’ve lost that, you never get it back. Part of you will always be missing. It was the hardest thing I’ve ever had to deal with.”
After having to deal with the devastating loss of her dad in front of the public eye, the young Queenslander would have been forgiven if she strayed from the straight and narrow, however Bindi attributes her strength to the love and support of her family, especially from her mother Terri Irwin.
“It’s so easy to be there when it’s all sunshine, but it really takes strength and courage to be there for each other during the dark times. Mum is the strongest woman I know,” she told the publication.
Bindi looked stunning on the cover of the Telegraph‘s Sunday Style magazine in a tulle black dress and boater hat.
The Silver Logie winner couldn’t speak more highly of her mum, “She’s carried on Dad’s legacy and I don’t know anyone else who could have done it better than her. No matter what life throws at us, she’s unchangeable. I want to be like her as I grow up.”
In between starring in TV shows, managing Australia Zoo and her TAFE studies, Bindi has managed to find love in an 18 year-old American Wakeboarding Champion, Chandler Powell.
Young love! Bindi, 17 and Chandler, 18 have been open about their relationship on social media
“I feel lucky to have him in my life,” Bindi Irwin gushes over her wakeboarding champion boyfriend Chandler.
“I was blessed to meet Chandler and his family back in November 2013. We remained in touch and stayed friends. Since then, our friendship has developed into something really special,” she explained to Sunday Style.
“He is passionate about wildlife and an extraordinary wakeboarder, we are excited to be achieving more conservation work together. I feel lucky to have him in my life,” she beamed.
Despite hinting in earlier interviews that the 17-year-old was ditching her famous Khakis, Bindi cleared the air: “Khaki is a part of who I am, but it’s fun to get dressed up every now and then. Being a bit of a girl is always exciting. You can’t jump on a croc or climb a tree if you’re not in khaki.”
With the dark days behind her and only happiness on the horizon we are so proud of Bindi Irwin, but to us – she’ll always be that gorgeous little girl in Khakis and pigtails.
Watch Bindi’s transformation in the video player above
