Robert Irwin, known for his wholesome conservationist image and dedication to carrying on his late father, Steve Irwin‘s legacy, has shocked fans with his latest career move.

The 21-year-old took off his clothes for an underwear campaign with Australian brand Bonds, showing off a sculpted physique alongside venomous snakes and spiders.

While his transformation may be surprising, Robert embraces the bold new step in his journey.

Despite being known for his khakis and adventure gear, Robert Irwin had no hesitation in saying yes to the campaign.

“It was a pretty immediate yes,” he told PEOPLE Magazine. “I wish I could say I was very suave and cool about the whole thing, but I was like, ‘Yes! Let’s do it!’ Because Bonds in Australia is an absolute icon.”

For Robert, stepping into the modeling world is part of a personal challenge to take on new and exciting experiences.

“I’m at this point in my life where I’m trying to do as many different and random exciting things, and if it’s something that makes me a little bit nervous, that I’ve never done before, and it’s a bit of an adrenaline rush? That’s what I want to be doing,” he added.

Fans can check out the photo here.

A wildlife warrior at heart, Robert brought his signature love for animals to the campaign. Only this time, he didn’t have his usual outdoor gear to protect him.

“I mean, I’ve spent my life wrangling crocs and snakes and rescuing animals. And so to feature a little slice of that excitement in this new campaign, mate, it has been so much fun. I mean, I’m surrounded by spiders and snakes except [this time] I’m in my undies,” he explained. “That’s the only difference.”

While working with dangerous creatures is second nature to him, baring it all for a camera was an entirely new experience.

“Getting your gear off is way scarier than wrangling a croc!” he admitted. “Wrangling animals is easy… and I had to do both. It was not on my bingo card. It felt so surreal. But it’s true what they say about Bonds, mate. They keep you comfy the whole way through.”

Robert, who is constantly on the move rescuing animals and maintaining Australia Zoo, is naturally active, but he still put in extra effort for the campaign.

“I’ve got to stay pretty fit with all the crazy stuff I’m doing,” he explained. “I’m saving crocodiles, I’m in and out of the Aussie bush every day and it’s hard work, so you’ve got to keep pretty good upper body strength, good stamina.”

Still, he pushed himself even further for the photoshoot. “I’m representing Australia!” he said. “So I wanted to look my best and to feel my best and just feel really confident. And so I’ve done more sit-ups and had less carbs than I ever have in my life, but it’s been fun.”

His workouts included running across Australia Zoo’s vast property. “It’s great, I’ve got about 700 acres to just run. So I’ve been doing a lot of sprints, a lot of hill sprints.”

Additionally, he had some valuable help from his family. “My brother-in-law Chandler, he’s a professional athlete so he gave me a lot of great tips. And my mom actually did bodybuilding! She had more biceps then than I’ll ever have!”

Despite his unexpected career move, Robert had the full backing of his close-knit family, including his sister Bindi Irwin.

“My family is so supportive, I just love them so much,” he said. “They’re the solid foundation to everything I do, and what we’re doing together.”

For him, entering the modeling world isn’t just about trying something new; it’s also about spreading his wildlife conservation message to a broader audience.

“We are all trying to continue an important legacy that my dad started,” he said. “I’ve gotten to find my own individual ways of doing that, and sometimes that comes in the form of modeling Bonds!”

Robert added, “It seems so out of the ordinary for what I would do, but I get to be with Aussie Wildlife, I get to approach a new audience, a new platform, and get my wildlife conservation message out there to more people. And that is what means so much to me and my family.”

Robert knows that his late father, the beloved Crocodile Hunter, would have had quite the reaction to his bold new look.

“There’d probably be a few ‘Crikeys’ thrown around!” he said with a laugh.

While this new chapter may be unexpected for fans, Robert Irwin proves that he is more than just his father’s son. He’s a young man carving his own path, whether that means saving crocodiles or modeling underwear.