ROBERT IRWIN BECOMING MY OWN MAN

THE HOTTEST IMPORT FROM DOWN UNDER OPENS UP ABOUT DANCING WITH THE STARS, FAMILY AND FULLY EMBRACING LIFE—JUST LIKE HIS DAD

- GILLIAN TELLING

A NEW ROBERT "I'm at a time in life where I want to try as many new things as possible and inspire people," says Irwin (with Cassie, a furry friend from local group Kitten Rescue, in L.A.in August).

Robert Irwin, the son of the late Crocodile Hunter star Steve Irwin, knows he’s happiest when he’s outdoors playing with animals—like for his recent People cover shoot, where he braved a Los Angeles heat wave to cuddle up with kittens, ducklings, llamas and horses. “No desk job for me,” the 21-year-old says with a laugh. “I’d rather play with crocodiles all day. Or be surfing, skydiving, skateboarding, mountain biking, rock climbing... I think it’s the Irwin genetics. I was just born to be wild.” Irwin works as a wildlife conservationist at the family’s Australia Zoo alongside mom Terri, 61, sister Bindi, 27, and brother-in-law Chandler Powell, 28, but says being in L.A. to compete on this season of Dancing With the Stars (premiering Sept. 16 on ABC) “scares me more than anything else I've ever done! I’ve never attempted anything close to dancing. I guess you could say that avoiding a crocodile trying to eat you requires footwork, but it’s different. But I’m at a time in my life where I want to branch out and try as many new things as I can.” That includes modeling (see his viral underwear ad), being the newest face of Columbia Sportswear and Tourism Australia and cohosting Australia’s I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here! “I also feel a great responsibility, as an advocate for our planet, to shine a light on what's happening in the natural world. But most of all, I wanted to do this because I was inspired by my sister Bindi, who won