Robert De Niro’s daughter has courageously shared her journey of coming out as transgender. In an emotional interview with Them, the 29-year-old opened up about her experiences, expressing her gratitude for her parents’ unwavering support. “No parent is perfect, but I’m thankful that both of mine chose to keep me out of the spotlight,” she shared. “They wanted to give me a private life, away from the public eye, and ensure I could have as normal a childhood as possible.”
Airyn, the daughter of legendary actor Robert De Niro and actress Toukie Smith, also has a twin brother, Julian. With the love and protection of her parents, she has navigated her path with strength and grace.
As a child. Airyn came out as gay and shared she found it hard to fit in at school.
Reflecting on her younger years, Robert De Niro’s daughter recalled, “Growing up, when people started hitting puberty and feeling attracted to one another… I never had that.” She added, “I never had a boyfriend at a young age, and looking back, I wonder: do we really need to be dating in middle school? But back then, I felt like it meant I was unwanted, undesired. I wasn’t attractive like the other girls or boys.”
She also shared her difficult experiences with societal expectations, noting, “I never fit the beauty standard — thin, white, muscular, or super fit and masculine. I was always told I was too much of something or not enough of something: too big, not skinny enough, not Black enough, not white enough, too feminine, not masculine enough. It was never just, ‘You’re perfect as you are.’”
It wasn’t until November that she began hormone therapy. “Seeing trans women being honest and open, especially in public spaces like social media, and witnessing their success… I thought, ‘Maybe it’s not too late for me. Maybe I can start.’”
While embracing her transition, she also expressed concern about how her family might perceive her, saying, “I think a part of me is afraid they’ll still see me as the person I was before the transition.”
A crucial part of her journey, she shared, is the profound influence of Black women on her transformation. “Stepping into this new identity, and becoming more proud of my Blackness, makes me feel closer to them in a way that feels so right.”
