Bindi Irwin and Chandler Powell share a romance that could be straight out of a movie. The couple first met as teenagers in late 2013 and kept in touch over the years. By 2015, they were officially together.
Powell eventually relocated to Australia to be with Irwin, and he proposed in 2019. They married the following year and welcomed their daughter, Grace, in 2021.
Irwin, together with her younger brother, Robert Irwin, and their mother, Terri Irwin, continues the legacy of her late father, “Crocodile Hunter” Steve Irwin, by traveling around the world to protect animals and preserve the environment.
Powell shares this passion for wildlife, and their young daughter is already showing an interest as well.
From their initial meeting at the Australia Zoo to the arrival of their daughter, here is a look into Bindi Irwin and Chandler Powell’s relationship.
Powell, originally from Seffner, Florida, was a professional wakeboarder who traveled to Australia for a competition.
During his visit, his family chose to go to the Australia Zoo, where the Irwin family lives and works. At that time, Powell and Irwin were teenagers and immediately clicked.
Before leaving the zoo, Powell asked Terri Irwin if he could stay in contact with her daughter. They began as friends and eventually became a couple while Powell was studying in Florida and Irwin remained in Queensland, Australia.
“She ended up giving me a tour, and we ended up staying in touch ever since,” Powell said in 2015.
By July 2015, Irwin and Powell had become closer, though she was still not publicly discussing their relationship. Her first social media post featuring Powell was in support of the Australia Zoo.
“Super excited that @chandlerpowell has joined our #WildlifeWarriors team,” Irwin wrote on Instagram.
“Our global ambassadors are changing the world and making a huge difference to spread the message of conservation. We must work together to create a beautiful world for the generations to come.”
Irwin and Powell went public with their relationship during Irwin’s appearance on season 21 of Dancing with the Stars, where she won the competition with dance partner Derek Hough.
“We talk every day and are together every two to three months,” she told about managing their long-distance relationship. “Thankfully I’ve found someone who is an outdoors kind of person. We’ll go have adventures or picnic in the park.”
Irwin officially introduced their relationship on Instagram for Powell’s birthday. “Happy birthday to a person who inspires me every day,” Irwin wrote with a photo of Powell holding her.
“A soul who makes me smile no matter where I am in the world, despite any amount of distance. Thank you for the endless hugs, late night conversations about life, holding my hand when a loud noise scares me, and laughing along with all of my bindi moments. I’m blessed to be a part of your world.”
While they were dating long-distance, they saw each other every few months until Powell moved to Australia to live with the Irwin family at the Australia Zoo.
“I’m so lucky that I’ve met someone who is excited and up for the challenge of our wonderful busy life,” Irwin told. “We’re having a great time throwing Chandler into everything.”
On Irwin’s 21st birthday, Powell proposed with an engagement ring. “I am overjoyed to be sharing the news that Chandler and I are engaged!” Irwin said.
“This has been the most special day celebrating my 21st birthday. I’ve met my soulmate and I can’t wait to spend the rest of my life with Chandler. We’ve been together for nearly 6 years now and he’s my happily ever after.”
In October 2019, Powell appeared on the Irwin family’s show, Crikey! It’s the Irwins. The Animal Planet series documents their work at the Australia Zoo, and Powell made his first appearances toward the end of season 2.
On the season 2 finale of Crikey! It’s the Irwins, Irwin and Powell released a rehabilitated koala back into the wild. This release took place shortly after their engagement and was aired several months later.
“The first time I met Chandler, he was holding a koala,” Irwin said in the episode. “So it only seemed right to celebrate our engagement by releasing a koala back into the wild.”
The couple had initially planned a wedding with 200 guests in April 2020 but altered their plans due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Instead, Irwin and Powell married in an intimate ceremony at the Australia Zoo with just three guests: her mom Terri, her brother Robert, and her late father’s best friend Wes Mannion.
“We thought about postponing because you want to share this day with everyone,” Irwin told.
“But when it boiled down to it, we both just said, ‘Look, we desperately want to get married, and no matter what the future holds, at least we’ll be husband and wife. We can take on the world together.’ Even if it wasn’t by-the-book perfect, it was our perfect.”
They held the ceremony in a “special place” within the zoo where Irwin’s father had filmed for years. Irwin’s younger brother Robert walked her down the aisle.
Although Steve Irwin passed away in 2006, his memory remains with his family. As Irwin revealed in an Instagram post, Steve was also part of Powell’s early life. In a photo, a young Powell is seen holding a copy of Steve’s 2002 documentary Crocodile Hunter: Collision Course.
“This makes my heart so happy,” she captioned the photo. “My sweetheart husband has watched Dad’s documentaries since he was little.”
The couple shared glimpses of their nature-themed wedding with for their April 2020 cover story. Irwin and Powell exchanged vows surrounded by animals, including a koala to honor their first meeting. Their wedding cake was also nature-themed, designed to resemble tree bark.
Powell said that the outdoorsy theme “fit the day perfectly” and reflected who they are. “Conservation is who we are,” he added. “It’s not just what we do. We love it. It’s our life.”
The wedding was filmed for an Animal Planet special, which aired on April 18, 2020.
With a photo of the couple smiling and holding a tiny Australia Zoo uniform, Irwin announced they were expecting their first child together. “Baby Wildlife Warrior due 2021,” Irwin wrote.
“Though I’m still in my first trimester, we really want you to be part of our journey from the beginning of this new life chapter. We couldn’t wait to share the news as this beautiful little being has become the most important part of our lives. Your support means the world to us.”
In September 2020, Irwin and Powell confirmed they were expecting a baby girl.
“Baby girl, you are our world,” Irwin wrote with a photo of her and Powell smiling with a sonogram while hugging a giant tortoise. “Our beautiful daughter is now about the same size as a hatchling Aldabra tortoise and is as healthy as can be. We can’t wait for her arrival next year.”
On their first wedding anniversary, Irwin and Powell celebrated another major milestone: the birth of their daughter, Grace Warrior Irwin Powell.
“Celebrating the two loves of my life. Happy first wedding anniversary to my sweetheart husband and day of birth to our beautiful daughter,” Bindi wrote on Instagram.
“There are no words to describe the infinite amount of love in our hearts for our sweet baby girl. She chose the perfect day to be born and we feel tremendously blessed.”
Irwin and Powell celebrated Powell’s 25th birthday on the beach with their daughter Grace. “Happy Birthday, sweetheart!” Irwin wrote on Instagram.
“Eight years of falling more in love with you every day. My best friend, adventurer, husband, and the greatest Dadda to our Grace Warrior.
You embrace every day with a determination that I admire. You carry kindness and sunshine in your heart, no matter the challenge. You walk through life with strength and give your time to anyone who needs a helping hand.”
For Grace’s 1st birthday, Irwin shared a series of photos from a family photoshoot featuring Powell, Grace, her younger brother Robert, her mom Terri, and Powell’s parents.
