Wildlife warrior Bindi Irwin has danced – and cried – her way into the final of the US version of Dancing with the Stars.
The sweet 17-year-old from Queensland wept in the arms of her partner, Derek Hough, after images of her proud parents, including the late Steve Irwin, were shown on the screen during her final dance.
‘I love you, thank you,’ she was heard to say.
Bindi’s little brother, Robert, and her Mum, Terri, were also crying, as were two of three judges, who couldn’t have been more gushing in their praise.
Judge Carrie Anne Inaba wiped away tears as she said: ‘Thank you to your Mum and Dad for creating you … You are in a class of your own. I don’t think I’m alone in saying, I feel like I’m a better person after I’ve watched you dance. And that is the magic of dance. You’re able to make somebody feel like their life just got better. A star is born, Bindi. A star is born … I am grateful for you.’
The second judge, Julianne Hough – who is Bindi’s partner, Derek’s sister – said: ‘I’m crying. The difference with you Bindi is, you are so special, and you have taken each and every one of us on the journey with you. You’ve left an imprint on all of our hearts. It was beautiful, extraordinary, amazing.’
The third judge, Bruno Tonioli, said: ‘What you did was show us the power of dance at it’s most pure. You dance from the heart. You touched everybody’s soul, all over America.’
Bindi wept as she replied, saying: ‘This has meant to the world to my whole family and it has changed my life. Thank you so much.’
Bindi is now the favourite to win the Mirror Ball trophy today, Australian time.
Bindi was the only female contestant left in the final, and she went into the final with her partner battling bronchitis.
‘You can see he’s in pain. I’m really nervous. It adds to the pressure of the week,’ Bindi said, yet they did not put a foot wrong.
She’s is now $500,000 richer than she was at the start of the show.
Bindi will be up against a sentimental favourite: Army National Guard Specialist Alek Skarlatos, who became a hero in August when he helped avert a massacre aboard a Belgian train.
Alek, 22, who was on holiday after being deployed to Afghanistan, was half-asleep in his seat when an armed attacker produced an assault rifle.
Alek and two of his friends, Airman 1st Class Spencer Stone and student Anthony Sadler, disarmed and subdued the attacker. Now he’s a dancer! Gold bless America.
