Airyn De Niro, daughter of actor Robert De Niro and actress Toukie Smith, has come out as a transgender woman. In a heartfelt interview with Them magazine, the 29-year-old opened up about her journey, identity, and plans for the future.
Airyn said she started hormone therapy in November 2024. She shared that her decision to come out publicly wasn’t easy, but it felt like the right time. She explained that seeing Halle Bailey play Ariel in the 2023 live-action remake of The Little Mermaid was a big moment for her. It helped her see that she, too, could embrace her femininity and live as her true self.
She spoke about how Black women have played an important role in shaping how she sees herself. “Black women raised me,” she said in the interview, adding that connecting with her Black identity helped her understand her gender identity more deeply. For Airyn, being Black and being trans are both essential parts of who she is.
Airyn said she’s grateful that her parents allowed her and her twin brother, Julian, to grow up out of the spotlight. That gave her time and space to explore her identity without feeling judged or pressured by the public. While she understands that being Robert De Niro’s daughter brings attention, she also wants people to know she’s her own person.
Now, she’s focused on carving her own path. Airyn hopes to pursue acting and modeling, just like her mother, but she’s not relying on her famous last name to get there. She’s very aware of how the entertainment industry can label people as “nepo babies,” but she wants to build a career based on her own talent and hard work.
She also opened up about struggling with body image, especially growing up in a family of mostly thin people. Airyn said that being bigger-bodied while also dealing with gender dysphoria made things harder, but those experiences have shaped the kind of advocate she wants to be. She’s passionate about speaking up for people who are often ignored—especially those who are Black, queer, trans, plus-sized, or any combination of those identities.
Along with her creative goals, Airyn is currently studying to become a mental health counselor. She wants to support communities that don’t often get the help they need, especially when it comes to mental health and self-acceptance.
Airyn’s story is personal, but she hopes it helps others feel less alone. “I want to be seen, and I want to be visible,” she said. Her coming out is not just about her—it’s about opening doors for others, too.
She is one of Robert De Niro’s seven children, and while she may have grown up away from Hollywood’s cameras, Airyn is now ready to step into the light—on her own terms.
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