The son of the late Crocodile Hunter, Steve Irwin, is turning heads in bold new ads for Bonds, the iconic Australian underwear brand now making its debut in the U.S. The 21-year-old conservationist and TV personality leaves little to the imagination in the nearly nude campaign — and says he didn’t think twice about saying yes.
It was a pretty quick yes, he said to PEOPLE with a laugh.
“I wish I could say I was very suave and cool about the whole thing, but I was like, ‘Yes! Let’s do it!’ Because Bonds in Australia is an absolute icon,” he adds. “Also, I’m at this point in my life where I’m trying to do as many different and random exciting things, and if it’s something that makes me a little bit nervous, that I’ve never done before and it’s a bit of an adrenaline rush? That’s what I want to be doing.”
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The former zookeeper says he was completely unfazed about posing alongside snakes, lizards, and even venomous spiders for the “Made for Down Under” campaign.
“I mean, I’ve spent my life wrangling crocs and snakes and rescuing animals. And so to feature a little slice of that excitement in this new campaign, mate, it has been so much fun. I mean, I’m surrounded by spiders and snakes except [this time] I’m in my undies. That’s the only difference.”
So, what’s more nerve-wracking: wrangling a crocodile or baring it all in your underwear for a photoshoot?
“Getting your gear off is way scarier than wrangling a croc!” he says.
“Wrangling animals is easy… and I had to do both. It was not on my bingo card. It felt so surreal. But it’s true what they say about Bonds, mate. They keep you comfy the whole way through.”
Robert Irwin says his adventurous lifestyle—rescuing crocodiles and trekking through the Australian bush—naturally keeps him in shape. But for the Bonds campaign, he kicked things up a notch, adding extra workouts and cutting back on carbs to look and feel his best.
Robert Irwin is an Australian wildlife conservationist, television personality, photographer, and zookeeper. He was born on December 1, 2003, in Buderim, Queensland. He is the son of the late Steve Irwin, the beloved “Crocodile Hunter,” and Terri Irwin, an American-Australian naturalist. From a young age, Robert was immersed in the world of animals and conservation, growing up at the Australia Zoo, which his parents helped build into a world-renowned wildlife sanctuary.
Following in his father’s footsteps, Robert co-hosts Crikey! It’s the Irwins alongside his mother and sister, Bindi, where they share their passion for animals and ongoing work at the zoo. Known for his fearless interactions with wildlife, Robert has appeared on numerous international talk shows.
In addition to conservation work, Robert is an accomplished nature photographer, with his stunning wildlife images earning global recognition. He uses his photography to promote environmental awareness and raise funds for conservation initiatives. Robert is also an ambassador for Wildlife Warriors, the charity founded by his parents.
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