Airyn De Niro Comes Out as Trans, Shares Her Journey

Hollywood icon Robert De Niro is known for his award-winning roles and private personal life—but his daughter, Airyn De Niro, just stepped into the spotlight with a story of courage, identity, and authenticity.

In an intimate and honest interview with Them, Airyn, 29, shared her experience of coming out as a transgender woman, opening up about growing up away from the Hollywood chaos despite being the daughter of one of the industry’s biggest stars. Her mother, actress Toukie Smith, and De Niro made it a point to raise Airyn and her twin brother Julian out of the public eye.

“I’ve been visible. I don’t think I’ve been seen yet,” she said, explaining her decision to share her journey publicly after years of quietly navigating her identity.

Airyn, an aspiring model and actress, addressed headlines that mislabeled her and responded to the “nepo baby” narrative: “I wasn’t brought up going to premieres or having cameos in my dad’s movies. My dad was very big on us finding our own path.”

Beyond fame, Airyn’s story dives deep into body image, self-worth, and embracing her Black and queer identity. “I’ve always felt like I was never enough—or too much,” she said, speaking of her struggles with beauty standards and body dysmorphia.

Now undergoing hormone therapy and studying to become a mental health counselor, Airyn hopes to represent those who are often left out of mainstream narratives. “I want to be an inspiration for people like me—Black, queer, not a size zero.”

With grace, strength, and refreshing honesty, Airyn De Niro is making her own mark—not as Robert De Niro’s daughter, but as a woman determined to live life on her own terms.