Robert Irwin Opens Up About His Mom Terri — “She Exemplifies the True Definition of Strength” | A Powerful and Emotional Tribute That’s Melted the Internet

Robert Irwin is honoring his mom, Terri Irwin, as one of his biggest heroes.

Speaking exclusively to PEOPLE after Dancing with the Stars’ “Dedication Night” on Tuesday, Oct. 14, the wildlife conservationist, 21, opened up about how Terri, 61, “exemplifies” strength and serves as a role model for him.

“My mom exemplifies how to be strong. And I think so many people forget what strong means,” Robert tells PEOPLE. “You think strong is like steadfast, you show up, you just carry on, and everything’s fine. That’s not what strength is.”

“True strength is being able to find and feel your own vulnerability, your own emotion, and use that to carry yourself and to hopefully try and help others and to create a community,” he continues. “And my mom is just such a kind and vulnerable and strong and steadfast human being, and she teaches me every day what it is to put one foot in front of the other, even when it’s so hard to do that.”

Robert, who performed with Terri in a special tribute on DWTS, praised his mom for helping share their family’s story for the benefit of others.

“I really, really hope that our story and the story that we tried to create tonight resonates and helps other people,” he says.

“We all feel lost at some point in our lives, and I just really want this to be a reminder to everyone,” Robert adds. “There are people who care about you and who want to see you do well. You have to just keep putting one foot in front of the other. It will be OK.”

The DWTS contestant’s conversation with PEOPLE came after he gave an emotional performance with his pro partner, Witney Carson, to Phil Collins’ “You’ll Be in My Heart” in honor of his mom for the show’s “Dedication Night” episode.

Terri joined Robert and Witney, 32, on the dance floor as the number came to a close, while Robert’s sister, Bindi Irwin, 27, ran to hug him before he received his scores from the judges.

The moving performance brought Robert to tears, along with judges Derek Hough and Bruno Tonioli, and Terri also appeared visibly emotional throughout.

After the family-oriented performance, Robert opened up about how the Irwins’ story has been shaped by the loss of his dad, Steve Irwin, who died at age 44 in 2006 after being pierced by a stingray barb while filming in Australia.

Speaking to PEOPLE, Robert said that his mother helped him cope with the death of the late “Crocodile Hunter.”

“I think, growing up, there’s certain things as a kid that you don’t realize. I mean, a credit to my mum, I never felt as though I ever missed out on anything in life,” Robert says.

“I always felt, obviously, I was missing a very big part of my life, but she made sure that I never felt I missed out,” he explains. “I got to have such an incredible childhood. But then, as you get a little bit older, you look back and get perspective.”

Robert says he now realizes the “strength” his mum “had to keep going” after his father’s death. “Let alone to continue the legacy that my dad started with her, but also to raise us kids,” he notes.

In the midst of working on his routine for “Dedication Night,” Robert admitted in an Oct. 12 TikTok video that it had been “a tough week” as he reflected on grief and the work he put into his performance.

“We’ve been working hard, and I’ve been sort of tapping into emotions that I haven’t really gotten to share before — certainly not publicly,” Robert said in the video. “I’ve been thinking a lot about my dad, I’ve been thinking a lot about the highs and the lows, the grief, the way my mom has helped me navigate that.”

“This dance has just been this culmination of so much emotion, and I just want this to be a point of vulnerability,” he continued. “I want this to be a dance not only for my mom, but for all of the moms out there that don’t get the recognition that they deserve. I want this to be a dance for anyone who’s lost someone.”

“I hope this dance can help people because it’s certainly helped me,“ Robert finished in the clip.