On July 24, Bindi Irwin turned 22 years old. The celebration of another year around the sun comes just four months after she married her longtime sweetheart Chandler Powell on March 25.
And while Irwin has had a lot to celebrate over the last several months, the beloved zookeeper used her big day as a moment to express her gratitude for her parents. As those who are fans of the Irwin family know, Bindi lost her father, the beloved Steve Irwin when she was just 8 years old.
Since his passing, Bindi has followed directly in her father’s footsteps and kept his memory alive and well over the last 14 years. And thanks to the legacy he created, including the Australia Zoo, Bindi found the love of her life in Powell, who quickly became a member of the Irwin family.
Bindi Irwin Remembers Her Father on Her 22nd Birthday
But it was on her birthday that she chose to make the day about the two people who brought her into this world. “Birthday Love,” Bindi began. “22 years ago my parents decided to start a family. I will forever be grateful for their unconditional love and encouragement to follow my dreams.”
“I chose the two most compassionate, dedicated, and loving people in the world to be my mum and dad,” she proudly exclaimed. “There are no words to describe the amount of love in my heart for them both.”
Along with her beautiful words, Bindi shared a video of her father talking about becoming a dad for the first time. Steve called meeting Bindi for the first time, the “most incredible wildlife encounter” of his life.
“It was a combination of adrenaline and emotion,” Steve said in the clip, which also shared some of their most beloved father-daughter moments. “It was like a euphoric feeling [becoming a father]. I was in total utopia.”
Her husband also took to Instagram to share a touching message on Bindi’s birthday, her first since becoming his wife. “For the first time ever as a married couple, happy birthday to my beautiful wife,” Chandler wrote.
“This year has been nothing short of epic and you have handled everything thrown our way with courage and grace. You inspire me to be a better person every day with how much love you have to give. Thank you for making the world a better and brighter place. My best friend, my wife, my everything. I love you.”
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Happy Birthday, Bindi! May your family and their big hearts never change!