Bindi Irwin paused from her 18th birthday festivites on Sunday to celebrate the life of her late father, Steve Irwin.
She honored the beloved Crocodile Hunter star with a pair of emotional Instagram posts, recounting the ways her life has evolved since her father’s death in 2006.
“Since this photo was taken, 18 years ago, one life ingredient has remained, unchanged, unbreakable. That is the unconditional love that is shared between my beautiful little family and the loyalty we have to each other and everyone else who has taken this journey with us,” Irwin wrote of a photo taken when her smiling parents cradled her as an infant. “I know that I am endlessly grateful for the love and light I have been given since Day 1 of my life.”
She also shared a snapshot of her playing with a baby tiger, illustrating how she’d carried on her father’s conservation work.
“All I know is that I will try my very best to make a difference in this world with each moment that I’m given,” she added. “Life is constantly evolving and I’m determined to find the light and love around every corner and share this with everyone who is a part of my story.”
Irwin has paid tribute to her father many times over the years. When she won season 21 of Dancing With the Stars last November, she told reporters she hoped he would be proud of her accomplishments. “I couldn’t even imagine if [he] was here right now…And I hope that I am able to carry on in his footsteps and make sure that his legacy lives on,” she said at the time. “His strength is what keeps me going.”
