Robert Irwin Finds Love With Wildlife Photographer After DWTS Victory

Love appears to be thriving in the Australian wildlife world. Robert Irwin, the 22-year-old conservationist and son of the late Steve Irwin and Terri Irwin, has moved on from his 2024 breakup and is now dating wildlife photographer Ashleigh Scully, 24. The pair have been traveling together for months, their budding romance sparked sometime after they were photographed together in Australia in March while arriving at the set of Dancing With the Stars: The Next Pro.

What makes this connection particularly fitting is how naturally aligned their careers are. Both are photographers with a shared passion for the natural world — Irwin has built his reputation capturing wildlife alongside his conservation work, while Scully has been a wildlife photographer since age 8. She specializes in shots of bears, owls, and foxes, and has recently ventured into underwater photography. The two had known each other since 2019, so this isn’t a case of strangers meeting at a party; their relationship blossomed from years of familiarity within a tight-knit circle of wildlife professionals.

The romance timing couldn’t feel more organic either. Irwin won the mirrorball trophy on Dancing With the Stars season 34 with partner Witney Carson, and their professional success has carried into his new hosting role on Dancing With the Stars: The Next Pro. Meanwhile, Scully has been off pursuing her own adventures — she recently returned from a glacial mountaineering trip in Alaska in early June, where she was capturing images and documenting the remote experience. Her Instagram caption about the journey —“Born to build igloos, forced to boil snow”— hints at someone equally adventurous and unafraid of challenging environments.

The couple’s travels have even included appearances on the Dancing With the Stars Tour, blending their professional worlds seamlessly. Scully, who grew up in New Jersey but is based in Jackson, Wyoming, earned both her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in literature from Texas Christian University, where she competed as an equestrian for five years before committing fully to photography. It’s the kind of well-rounded background that speaks to someone genuine and grounded — not just a celebrity chasing another celebrity.

For Irwin, this relationship represents a fresh chapter after more than two years since his split from Rorie Buckey in February 2024. The pair had announced their separation with mutual respect and grace, and Irwin has clearly taken time to move forward meaningfully. Finding someone who shares his passion for wildlife and adventure — and who operates largely outside the celebrity spotlight — suggests he’s chosen a partner who understands the unique world he inhabits.