Bindi Irwin has spent her life in the spotlight, following in the footsteps of her late father, Steve Irwin, as a wildlife conservationist and advocate - but in a rare interview she's opened up about the hidden struggles she faced behind closed doors. Speaking to Sarah Grynberg on a new episode of the A Life of Greatness podcast, the 26-year-old shared insights into her grief, chronic illness, and the importance of speaking up for women's health.

For more than a decade, Bindi battled severe, undiagnosed health issues that she kept private, known only to her husband Chandler Powell, mum Terri, and younger brother Robert. 'Behind closed doors I was struggling to do anything and everything,' she said. She was in constant pain, extreme fatigue, and forced to cancel work commitments, often leaving her feeling isolated and misunderstood. 'I think people must have thought I was just incredibly flaky because I was getting so sick… I would try to get up, and I really would just throw up. I was in so much pain all the time,' Bindi said.

After years of being told by doctors that her symptoms were 'just part of being a woman', she finally found the answer to her long-standing struggle: endometriosis. Bindi was eventually diagnosed with over 30 lesions of endometriosis, some so debilitating they had adhered her ovary to her side. Bindi Irwin was diagnosed with chronic endometriosis after 10 years of struggling behind closed doors. She underwent surgery in the United States, a procedure that changed her life.

'Endometriosis is an enormous problem for so many people, and it's not talked about enough. I went 10 years undiagnosed because doctors didn't know enough,' she said. She explained how many women with endometriosis are misdiagnosed with conditions like IBS or hormonal issues, leading them to suffer in silence for years. Bindi said she underwent every scan and test imaginable, including CT scans, MRIs, ultrasounds and blood tests for 'every tropical disease' but 'nothing came back'.

'I was so sick for so long,' she said. Fortunately for Bindi, her family was always by her side. 'I was so lucky where I had such a supportive family and they never gave up on me,' she said. 'They dealt with it for 10 years just as much as I did, trying to find answers and helping me along the way and saying, "Hey, you're collapsed on the floor. You probably should get some help and you shouldn't listen to the doctors saying this is normal".

Bindi Irwin has spent her life in the spotlight, following in the footsteps of her late father, Steve Irwin, as a wildlife conservationist and advocate. 'But so many people don't have that circle of people that they can count on. And so you turn to the medical industry looking for assistance and it can cause anxiety and depression - it's very isolating. 'And that's where it just is so difficult. So you turn to people who you think will help you, and sometimes you don't get the care that you so desperately deserve.'.

Bindi credits the birth of her daughter Grace as the catalyst that pushed her to seek medical answers after years of suffering. 'When I was so sick, it was hard to be the mum I wanted to be. Then I thought, I have to do something. This can't just all be in my head,' she explained. Now, after surgery, Bindi says she is in a much better place, but she acknowledges that endometriosis has no cure. Despite her struggles, Bindi remains committed to her family's mission of wildlife conservation, carrying on the work of her late father while also paving her own path.

'There's no cure, but if you get surgery, you have a better shot at life. Maybe in five or 10 years, I'll need another one, but for now, I'm so grateful.'. Bindi is now using her platform and voice to advocate for better education in women's healthcare, particularly around endometriosis. She hopes that by sharing her story, more women will feel empowered to advocate for their health and push for better diagnosis and treatment options.

'I was so scared to share my story because I thought it was all in my head. After a dozen doctors tell you you're crazy, you start to believe them,' Bindi said. Bindi has taken it upon herself to raise awareness about the crippling condition. 'If you are having a hard time, if your periods are really painful, please go get help. Please get assistance because it is a really scary disease,' she said. Now, as a mother herself, Bindi is determined to give her daughter, Grace, the same hands-on experience with wildlife and conservation that she had growing up.

Despite her struggles, Bindi remains committed to her family's mission of wildlife conservation, carrying on the work of her late father while also paving her own path. 'I try to be that glass half full kind of person. Even in difficult times, I believe we are in control of how we treat others and how we view the world,' she said. And if there's one lesson she hopes to pass on to her daughter, it's to live with passion, purpose, and resilience - just as her father did.