Robert Irwin Strips Down for Eye-Catching Underwear Campaign

LOS ANGELES, April 3, 2025 — Robert Irwin, the son of the late Crocodile Hunter Steve Irwin, embraces a new role as he models for a racy ad campaign promoting an Australian underwear brand, Bonds, which is launching in the U.S. The 21-year-old conservationist stated he had no hesitation when approached for the nearly naked photoshoot.

“It was a pretty immediate yes,” Irwin told PEOPLE. “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.”

Irwin, who has spent years raising awareness about wildlife conservation, mentioned that he is currently at a point in life where he seeks out new and exhilarating experiences. “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,” he said.

In the “Made for Down Under” campaign, Irwin posed alongside several reptiles and insects, including snakes and spiders, some of which are venomous. He reflected on the experience, mentioning, “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.”

When asked about the challenges he faced during the photoshoot, Irwin humorously stated, “Getting your gear off is way scarier than wrangling a croc! Wrangling animals is easy… and I had to do both. It was not on my bingo card. It felt so surreal.”

To prepare for the campaign, Irwin emphasized the importance of health and fitness in his daily routine. “I’ve got to stay pretty fit with all the crazy stuff I’m doing. I’m saving crocodiles, I’m in and out of the Aussie bush every day, and it’s hard work, so you’ve got to keep pretty good upper body strength, good stamina.”

Despite his active lifestyle, Irwin revealed he adjusted his workout regime and diet leading up to the shoot. “I wanted to look my best and feel really confident. I’ve done more sit-ups and had fewer carbs than I ever have in my life, but it’s been fun,” he said. “At Australia Zoo, our beautiful wildlife sanctuary, I’ve got about 700 acres to just run, so I’ve been doing a lot of sprints, a lot of hill sprints.”

Irwin also received advice and encouragement from his family, specifically his brother-in-law, professional athlete Chandler. “My mom actually did bodybuilding! She had more biceps than I’ll ever have!” Irwin noted.

He expressed gratitude for his family’s unwavering support, stating, “They’re the solid foundation to everything I do and what we’re doing together.”

Irwin emphasized that the purpose of his modeling campaign extended beyond personal endeavor. He hopes to use this platform to spread awareness and promote animal conservation, continuing the legacy initiated by his father. “We are all trying to continue an important legacy that my dad started. I’ve gotten to find my own individual ways of doing that, and sometimes that comes in the form of modeling Bonds,” he said.

Reflecting on how Steve Irwin might respond to his latest endeavor, Robert humorously remarked, “There’d probably be a few ‘Crikeys’ thrown around!”

The Bonds collection is available exclusively in the U.S. on Amazon.