How Robert Irwin got millions of new global fans after winning ‘Dancing with the Stars’
The Aussie star cemented America’s obsession with a cute touch after a nailbiting finale — the latest milestone in his explosive rise from zoo kid to global heart-throb. SEE THE VIDEO
In the nailbiting moments before Robert Irwin was crowned the winner of the US version of Dancing with the Stars, tension was at an all-time high.
The wildlife warrior, clad in a hot-pink sequined jacket, closed his eyes as he leaned in close to professional dance partner Witney Carson, as they awaited the final decision on who would take out the show’s season 34 finale.
When their names were called out by hosts Alfonso Ribeiro and Julianne Hough as the winners of the Mirrorball trophy, a jubilant Irwin appeared momentarily stunned before sinking to the ground, overwhelmed with emotion.
For Irwin, on a personal level the victory was what he later called “a full circle moment”, coming ten years after his much-loved big sister Bindi took out the coveted prize.
In a cute touch, Robert paid tribute to sister Bindi after his win by quoting her own response to her victory when she won with partner Derek Hough in 2015.
In floods of tears, Irwin said: “My sister said it best, ‘Thank you for changing my life!”
Irwin also posted on a video of his younger self being interviewed and being asked if he would ever take part in the hit series to which he replied: “Definitely, I would love to! That would be so much fun.”
And in terms of his career, the win cemented America’s love affair with the late Steve Irwin’s heir apparent, whose explosive rise this year has seen his remarkable transformation from conservationist boy wonder to unabashed sex symbol.
For decades, American audiences have gone crackers for the Irwins and with the rise and rise of Robert, or Baby Bob as he was once endearingly known, the family’s popularity is set to grow even more.
Irwin’s appearance on Dancing with the Stars, which sparked a TikTok frenzy and amassed millions of YouTube views as fans clicked on his dancing videos, came after a strategic rebranding of his image, which was kickstarted by his raunchy Bonds underwear campaign.
In images that went viral back in April, the suddenly grown up Irwin, 21, flaunted his jaw-dropping gym-honed physique in a series of surprisingly raunchy images featuring snakes, spiders and lizards.
In one of the campaign’s most memorable clips, an underwear-clad Irwin showed off his six pack and muscular arms as he sat in a quintessentially Aussie backyard while a snake slithered around his neck.
Irwin’s brand power was also on show when he was named by Tourism Australia in August as the face of a new multimillion-dollar campaign aimed at luring international travellers.
Audiences in the US lapped up the campaign, which showed Irwin hooning across sand dunes in South Australia’s Lincoln National Park, before rescuing an American tourist whose phone has been stolen by an emu.
PR expert Nicole Reaney, the Sydney-based CEO of Inside Out PR, said Irwin is creating a powerful brand in his own right through his authenticity and charisma.
“Robert as a child grew up in the shadows of his dad within a wildlife entertainment context,” she said.
“However, with his recent TV appearances particularly boosted with his hosting of I’m a Celebrity and advertising roles – he has been able to prove he is a successful media personality, is adaptable and create his own brand profile in his own right.
“He is charismatic, fun and genuinely seems like a nice guy. Crossing borders to the US, he holds these market connections via his parents. It’s a wise move and opens up global opportunities.”
Ms Reaney said American audiences had long loved the Irwin siblings for their unique charm and appeal.
“It’s a little bit of Aussie charm, the connection of the US to their mother and of course the fanbase of their father and their success and positivity beyond the tragedy they experienced as young children.”
Irwin, who was previously in a relationship with the late Heath Ledger’s niece, Rorie Buckey, recently admitted that being in the public eye has made his dating life difficult at times.
“Holy moly, that’s so challenging to navigate,” he told The New York Times, adding that, when it comes to romance, “anything you do will be on TikTok the next day.”
Fame and celebrity aside, Irwin, who still lives at his home base of Australia Zoo in Beerwah, on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast, has managed to stay grounded as he continues to build on his father’s legacy alongside his American-born mother, Terri and Bindi, who is married to American Chandler Powell, father of her daughter Grace Warrior.
“I usually get woken up as the sun comes up, let the chickens out and collect their eggs,” Irwin recently told Home Beautiful.
“By that time, I can start to hear the lemurs waking up too!” he said. “I live at the zoo, so my job is technically 24/7.”
As a conservationist and wildlife photographer, Irwin’s heart remains at Australia Zoo, the place where he has previously said he feels his father’s “energy and passion more than anywhere else”.
The beloved zoo was the spot where Irwin first entered the public eye — few Australians would forget the infamous moment in 2004 when the irrepressible Steve Irwin cradled baby Robert just a metre away from the jaws of a crocodile.
Robert was just two years old and sister Bindi aged eight when tragedy struck in 2006 when Steve died aged 44 after being pierced in the chest by a stingray barb while filming in the Great Barrier Reef.
In a recent interview with The New York Times, Robert said his father was “still teaching me every day”.
“He was about as traditionally masculine as you can get, and then, at the same time, he was the most vulnerable, emotional, family-oriented, kind human being,” Irwin told the New York Times. “That, to me, is the epitome.”
Irwin himself is proving to be just as sensitive as shown when he recently opened up about mum-of-one Bindi’s lengthy battle with endometriosis, saying the painful condition “needs to be [at] the forefront of discussions.”
Ms Reaney said for Irwin, the sky was the limit in terms of what happens next.
“I think it would be difficult (for Robert) to ‘outdo’ his dad who rose to fame for his very niche, very Aussie, very risky persona,” she said.
“He did this minus the platforms social media offers today and is still remembered fondly. “Robert is sure to see continued entertainment success and I’m sure he will have varying opportunities to weigh up and it will all be tipped in his favour.”
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Originally published as How Robert Irwin got millions of new global fans after winning ‘Dancing with the Stars’
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