> At a Glance
> – Robert Irwin shaved his signature scruff into a mustache for a TikTok prank
> – Mom Terri Irwin laughed and shook her head when asked if he should keep it
> – The 22-year-old Dancing with the Stars winner is now pushing for Terri to join season 35
> – Why it matters: The viral moment spotlights Irwin’s post-reality-TV pivot and growing social-media pull
Robert Irwin just proved he’s still the king of light-hearted surprises. Fresh off his Dancing with the Stars victory, the 22-year-old conservationist debuted a dramatic facial-hair switch-up that left his mom-and fans-doing a double take.
The Mustache Makeover
Irwin documented the entire stunt in a TikTok clip. He trimmed his blond scruff down to a lone mustache, then compared himself to Benson Boone, Top Gun-era Tom Cruise, and Tom Selleck’s Magnum, P.I. character.
The payoff came when he asked wildlife expert Terri Irwin for her thoughts on the new look.
Terri Irwin responded:
> “I, as your mother, I’m incredibly proud.”
Yet when Irwin pressed, “Should I keep it?”, she answered “Definitely” while shaking her head no-prompting laughter from both.
Life After the Mirrorball
The gag arrives weeks after Irwin’s headline-grabbing underwear campaign for Bonds in April 2025. It also caps a banner year that saw him win Dancing with the Stars season 34-exactly ten years after sister Bindi claimed the mirrorball.
Irwin told The Hollywood Reporter he’s already lobbying for a family encore:
> “Listen, the petition to have my mom on Dancing with the Stars has begun, and I started it.”
He added:
> “She is firmly like, ‘Nope, I’m not doing it. That’s not for me.’ And I’m like, ‘Well, I’m gonna wear you down.'”
Safari Weddings and Star Power
Beyond TV, Irwin is promoting the Crocodile Hunter Lodge at Australia Zoo, a passion project that opened in 2022. American visitor numbers have spiked since his DWTS win, and Irwin has one dream booking in mind.
In ABC’s year-end special THE YEAR: 2025, he pitched:
> “Wow, Travis and Taylor. You know what’d really, in my opinion, just absolutely make that wedding is if it was an Australian wedding.”
Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift announced their engagement in August 2025.
Key Takeaways
- Irwin’s mustache prank racked up TikTok views and media buzz overnight
- Terri’s mixed reaction-verbal yes, physical no-stole the show
- The conservationist is using his post-DWTS fame to boost Australia Zoo tourism
- Irwin is actively campaigning for Terri to compete on season 35
From reality-TV champ to social-media jokester, Robert Irwin keeps finding new ways to keep fans smiling-and Australia Zoo in the spotlight.
