Source: Bindi Irwin/Instagram
The actress daughter of late wildlife enthusiast Steve Irwin was crowned the winner of U.S. reality show
Dancing with the Stars Tuesday night.
Irwin, 17, lifted the coveted glitterball trophy with professional dancer Derek Hough, becoming the second youngest star to ever win the show after U.S. gymnast Shawn Johnson.
She beat Backstreet Boys star Nick Carter, who came in second, followed by soldier Alek Skarlatos, who stopped a gunman on a train bound for Paris, France in August.
Irwin, who paid tribute to her father in routines throughout the series, scored a perfect 30 from the judges for her final performance. Nick also received 30 points, but viewer votes made Bindi the winner.
Before the show, she shared a photograph on Instagram of her family, taken before Steve was killed by a stingray barb in 2006 at age 44.
“The last photo ever taken of us as a family. The day before I had to wave goodbye to my hero, without knowing it would be the last time,” she wrote. “But Dad, I know you walk beside me always and your strength lives within me. I love you.”
After her win, she added, “I am speechless. This is a gift and I can’t tell you how much love I have for all of your support throughout this beautiful journey. My life has been changed.”
