Bindi Irwin, the conservationist and television personality who has taken up the mantle of her late father Steve Irwin, revealed yesterday that she got quite the gift for her 21st birthday…
An engagement ring!
On July 24th, Bindi got engaged to Chandler Powell, her boyfriend of six years. Chandler is from Florida but met Bindi by chance in 2013 when he was a professional wakeboarder, visiting Australia for a competition.
“It just so happened that Bindi was giving tours that day,” he told People. “I’m like, ‘Wow she is amazing.’” The two have been going strong ever since.
“Close to 6 years ago I fell in love with you and every day since has been a whirlwind of adventure and true happiness,” Bindi wrote on Instagram. “I’m so looking forward to spending our forever together as your wife. Here’s to a lifetime of friendship, purpose, and unconditional love.”
Chandler surprised his future wife by proposing to her at her “favorite place” in the Australia Zoo, which is owned by Bindi’s mother Terri.
“After Bindi’s birthday celebration at Australia Zoo, we had a photoshoot organized to celebrate her turning 21,” Chandler told People. “Just before we started the shoot, I took her to a special part of Australia Zoo to ask the girl of my dreams to become my wife.
Bindi shared details about the engagement ring. It contains a lab-grown diamond and is made from rose gold recycled metal.
“Chandler was incredibly thoughtful when he chose it, the ring captures the essence of who I am (with its vintage flare) and our life together, with the twisted band and scattered diamonds,” she wrote on Instagram.
The world suffered a tragic loss in 2006 when Steve Irwin was killed after a stingray barb pierced his heart. His nature documentary series The Crocodile Hunter made him a beloved celebrity around the world and was renowned for his environmental and conservationist efforts.
Bindi was only eight when she lost her father. From a young age, she has followed in her father’s footsteps. She hosted the children’s nature show Bindi the Jungle Girl as a child, and has continued her parents’ wildlife conservation efforts. She donates 10% of her wages to her family’s charity, Wildlife Warriors.
“With our work with Australia Zoo and our non-profit organization Wildlife Warriors, every single day of our lives is spent continuing Dad’s legacy and making sure that everything he lived for and worked so hard for carries on into the future,” Bindi told LADbible.
Bindi also known for winning Dancing with the Stars in 2015.
Her brother Robert also recently made headlines for following in his father’s footsteps: he recreated a famous photo of his father, feeding the same crocodile 20 years later.
Bindi says that her fiancee Chandler also shares some qualities with her late dad.
“He loves wildlife and conservation and he has this strength,” Bindi told People. “Which is necessary when you’re jumping on Crocs.”
“One of the first times Chandler came to the zoo I wanted to kind of test him,” Robert said. “So we had him feeding alligators and he did awesome. I’m very impressed. He’s great with wildlife so I approve.”
Sounds like Chandler is going to fit right in with the family. Congrats to this happy couple!
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