Bindi Irwin has unleashed her inner nanna ahead of her 16th birthday, telling girls her age to stop flashing so much flesh.
The wildlife warrior, who is increasingly ditching the khaki for the fresh fashions she shares with her almost 100,000 Instagram followers, told News Corp Australia she’s started “experimenting” with her style but remains a barefoot girl from the bush at heart.
“I guess for me, because I wear khaki so much — waking up every day at the zoo, you just kind of grab your khaki uniform and you’re pretty much good to go — that when I get out of khaki I like to experiment and see how things go,” she said.
“I suppose the last year or so really I’ve been starting to have some fun and see what I can do with make-up and wardrobe and be a little bit of a girlie girl.
“Finding that great line between comfort and looking semi-good is fantastic.”
The daughter of late Crocodile Hunter Steve Irwin has always tackled the big issues — from animal protection to human overpopulation — but now she’s set her sights on a more conservative cause.
“I’m a big advocate for young girls dressing their age,” she said.
“I mean, for me, I look around at a lot of young girls that are my age and they’re always trying to dress older. Whether it’s wearing revealing clothes or hardly wearing any clothes at all, I feel really bad for them.
“It kind of has the opposite effect in some ways ... it kind of does the opposite where it makes you look younger and like you’re trying too hard.”
The entertainer, who says she wants to influence others with her fashion choices, has some wise words.
“I almost wish I could tell young girls, ‘look, in 10 years when you look back at yourself, you’ll cringe honey, honestly’,” she said.
“A lot of times I want to grab these girls and say ‘look ... in 10 years you’ll regret this. Just dress like who you are. Don’t try so hard. A pair of jeans and a T-shirt is just as gorgeous and even makes you look classier’.
“I look at adults and they say ‘when I was young I was wearing blue eye shadow’ and I’m cringing. So to be able to have that outlook on life is such a blessing and I’ve gotten that from my mum especially.
“The way I choose to dress, I want to influence other people around me I suppose.”
The mature teenager says she strives to share her outlook on life because, at just 15, she feels wise beyond her years.
“My mum and I, we were playing this game, how old would you be if you didn’t know how old you really are? Like how old is your soul? And I said ‘I’d be 86’,” she said.
“I suppose it’s just who I am. I find that what I’m passionate about and what I talk about ... I actually have a better connection with older people than I do with younger people.
“I like cups of tea and reading books and poetry and old people things.”
And far from the wild ways of other teen stars, Bindi — who turns 16 next month — said she steers clear of cigarettes and alcohol.
“I love a cup of tea and a good book and none of that really interests me,” she said.
“I guess growing up at Australia Zoo and getting to travel all over the world I have this great outlook on life and that’s what I hope I inspire other kids to have.”
Bindi will be celebrating her 16th birthday at Australia Zoo on July 24.
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