Bindi Irwin is feeling “jinxed” by her health struggles after missing the Steve Irwin Gala for a second year in a row.
The Wildlife Warrior was unable to attend the annual celebration of her father’s legacy in Las Vegas last week, instead appearing virtually alongside her husband Chandler Powell to assure fans she is “continuing to improve with my health” while noting her “long and winding” endometriosis journey.
The moment sparked concern amongst her fans, with many worried that the 27-year-old’s health issues are worse than she lets on.
Now, an insider has revealed how Bindi is really feeling amid what has been a “tough year” navigating her up-and-down health battle.
“Bindi feels like she’s jinxed and is convinced that these flare-ups around big events are stress-related,” a close source told Woman’s Day.
The insider said that there was “no way” the young conservationist would have been able to travel to Vegas, even if she had taken a direct flight from Brisbane.
“She might have made it had it been LA, but she’s had a tough year with her health.”
However, Bindi is said to have full faith in her brother Robert Irwin, 22, when it comes to taking the reins at family functions.
“She wants Robert to shine without her,” said the source, adding that he’s “old enough” to confidently run the show by himself.
In the lead-up to the Steve Irwin Gala last week, Bindi’s mum Terri Irwin, 61, confirmed to E! News that her daughter would not be in attendance and was, instead, staying in Queensland.
“Bindi is doing so much better now,” the mum-of-two told the US media outlet, referencing her battle with endometriosis.
“Things like a lot of travel are a bit challenging for her at the moment and so she’ll be here next year to celebrate this wonderful night.”
She added that Bindi would be staying Down Under to look after the family’s Australia Zoo, quipping: “So, ironically, it’s less taxing for her to be home feeding crocodiles.”
Terri pointed out that the family’s zoo had 500 employees and 500,000 acres of conservation land to look after, before praising her daughter for doing a great job at “holding down the fort” while she and Robert attended the event.
Bindi has been transparent regarding her endometriosis battle, and has opened up in the past about the 50 lesions she has had cut out of her body over the past ten years.