Bindi Irwin, the 17-year-old daughter of the late "Crocodile Hunter" Steve Irwin, is set to compete on the new season of "Dancing With The Stars."
The ABC reality show’s Facebook page revealed Irwin as the first celebrity dancing contestant to appear on the show's 21st season.
"I am unbelievably thrilled and truly blessed to be in the City of Angels to be part of this season of Dancing With The Stars," Irwin said in the announcement. "This will be a completely new adventure for me and I'm excited to share my journey. Life is about daring to dream, I'm in love with this city and ready to fall in love with the music and dance to come."
Irwin is no stranger to the spotlight. She first appeared on television with her father at age 2 and made continued appearances on "The Crocodile Hunter" until her father was killed by a stingray when she was 8 years old. After Steve Irwin's death, Bindi continued her father’s wildlife conservation efforts and starred on shows including “Bindi: The Jungle Girl,” “Bindi's Bootcamp,” and “Steve Irwin's Wildlife Warriors.”
“Dad is and always will be my living, breathing superhero,”
Irwin told Entertainment Online. “I'm very lucky to have such a beautiful family,” she added of her mother, Terri, and younger brother, Robert.
Although Irwin is accustomed to garnering media attention, she admitted that the idea of dancing and competing before a panel of judges does intimidate her.
“This is completely different to anything I have ever done in my life,”
Irwin said, according to ABC News. “I am used to wrangling crocodiles. ... I’m quite nervous about this. I have to tell you though, the judges scare me more than crocodiles.”
Despite her nervousness, Irwin hopes to inspire both her fans and "Dancing With the Stars" fans to take risks and throw themselves whole-heartedly into whatever they attempt to tackle.
“It’s all about having the courage and strength and, for me, it is something completely different but I hope that I am able to inspire others in their own lives to seize opportunity and to make a difference and just jump, take that leap, even if it terrifies you,” Irwin said, according to ABC News.
The 21st season of "DWTS" will premiere Monday, Sept. 14, at 8 p.m. on ABC.
Related Stories:
© 2024 Newsmax. All rights reserved.