Bindi Irwin

Bindi Sue Irwin was born on July 24, 1998, to parents Terri and Steve Irwin, nature conservationist and star of the popular Crocodile Hunter series. Young Bindi grew up on the grounds of the Australia Zoo, joining zoo staff in performing their daily duties as a young girl. Bindi was home-schooled, allowing her to stay close to family and the animals that she loved. Thanks to her father's active career in television, Bindi made her first broadcast appearances as early as two, and has been featured in programs such as The Crocodile Hunter Diaries, and the 2002 film The Wiggles: Wiggly Safari. In 2006 her father Steve was killed by a stingray during a shoot, putting Bindi at the very center of an international media frenzy. At the age of eight, Bindi found herself acting as family spokesperson, giving interviews with important TV personalities such as David Letterman, Ellen DeGeneres, and Larry King. With a number of film projects already in the works before the loss of her father, Bindi's personal tragedy coincided with her first major forays into the film industry. Bindi Kidfitness was released on DVD and CD in 2006 and became an instant success. She was named Australia's Ambassador of Tourism, involving a busy touring schedule with live appearances in several world cities promoting Australian eco-tourism. In addition, a Discovery Kids television network program entitled Bindi the Jungle Girl went into production shortly thereafter. The 26-piece series is expected to debut in the fall of 2007. ~ Evan C. Gutierrez