June 03, 2015

Wildlife Warrior Bindi Irwin has debuted a grown-up new look, and we think she looks great.

Teen wildlife warrior Bindi Irwin has hit the headlines after sharing an Instagram shot of herself wearing make-up.

The 16-year-old daughter of Steve and Terri Irwin has been accused of ‘backflipping’ because of previous statements she made urging young girls to shun make-up and look natural.

Here’s the shot:

The caption reads: To be beautiful means to be yourself. You don’t need to be accepted by others. You need to accept yourself. "What you do, the way you think, makes you beautiful.” - S. Westerfeld

BREAKING NEWS: teenage girl changes mind

Surely we’re not at the stage where we think we’re OK to play “gotcha” with a minor. She isn't the Prime Minister breaking an election promise.

The controversy comes after a few quotes reported on Kidspot last year where she pleaded with young girls to dress their age and avoid heavy make-up.

“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’,” she told news.com.au at the time.

She was 15. Now she’s 16. She wants to use a bit of lipstick. So sue her.

All kids mature differently

Most mums of girls know that the time will come when their teens will want to try on lipstick and high heels. It’s not a crime.

Of course we balance that natural urge with caution and careful guidance: tottering around in mum’s high heels at age eight is pretty cute if it happens around the house - maybe not so great if ends up on Instagram.

A 14-year-old may be regarded as too young to wear make-up - but a 16-year-old is old enough to have sex, at least according to the law. So she can probably handle a tube of mascara without lasting damage.

And all of the above is fluid - what is right for one child may not be right for another.

Every family is different - what may appear permissive for one parent could be perfectly reasonable for another. And what Bindi Irwin does with her face or body is no one’s business but hers.

That hasn’t stopped commenters on Bindi’s instagram account taking it upon themselves to lecture the teen.

“It is an oxymoron to promote beauty as being ourselves then show a face covered in make-up,” wrote one.

Real role model

But other fans were completely supportive of Bindi’s new look. “U r my role model, u are gorgeous,” wrote @jacinta127. “Wow, what a beautiful strong human being you have grown into,” wrote Angel5hug. “Bless you.”

Another reader, a mum called lady_mummalade, wrote: “Beautiful young lady. Am glad my daughter looks up to you. You can do no wrong in my eyes! Perfect role model for young girls.”

And that’s basically how most people see her. A pretty nice kid. A role model. She’s done extraordinary things to arise awareness around conservation - made real impacts in ways we all hope our kids will in their preferred fields.

Last year she was awarded the Australian Geographic Society’s Young Conservationist of the Year.

She and her mother Terri and brother Robert have campaigned, successfully, to save swathes of wilderness from mining. She has fronted Logie-award winning TV shows educating kids about wildlife.

She's even shared some mature and well-researched views about contraception for women in developing nations.

All round, an impressive act.

Compared to all that, does a bit of eyeliner really matter?

What do you think of Bindi's grown-up look?