Gender identity has become one of the most talked-about issues in recent years, as more individuals step forward to share their authentic selves. Among them is Airyn De Niro, the 29-year-old child of legendary actor Robert De Niro, who has publicly come out as transgender.
In a deeply emotional interview, Airyn opened up about her journey and the challenges of being truly recognized for who she is. “There’s a difference between being visible and being seen,” she shared. “I’ve been visible—I don’t think I’ve been seen yet.”
Recently, Robert De Niro’s daughter, Airyn De Niro, sat down with Them, an LGBTQ+ magazine, to open up about the conversations surrounding her “new look” and her decision to go public. After much discussion, she decided it was time to share her truth with the world.
Growing up, Airyn and her twin brother, Julian, were largely kept out of the limelight by their parents—actress Toukie Smith and iconic actor Robert De Niro. Despite their fame, they prioritized giving their children as normal a childhood as possible. In her conversation with Them, Airyn expressed gratitude for her parents’ protective stance: “Obviously, no parent is perfect, but I’m grateful that both my parents agreed to keep me out of the limelight. They wanted it very private. They told me they wanted me to have as much of a normal childhood as possible.”
Airyn’s journey to self-acceptance has been a long one. She came out as gay in middle school, but the experience wasn’t easy. She recalled the struggles of not fitting in with her peers: “When people started hitting puberty and began liking each other… I never had that,” she said. “I never had a boyfriend at a young age. Even though, looking back, do we really need to be dating in middle school? I was like, ‘Wow, these things signify I’m very unwanted. I’m not desirable. I’m not attractive like the other people, the other girls, the other boys.’”
Despite the challenges, Airyn’s story is one of resilience and courage as she navigates her personal journey and embraces her true identity.
Airyn De Niro, in her candid conversation with Them, also shared her struggles with self-image, particularly within the gay community. She recalled once thinking gay men were “ruthless and mean” and expressed how she felt she didn’t fit into the narrow beauty standards often upheld by society—those of being thin, white, muscular, or extremely fit.
She revealed the deep insecurities she battled growing up: “I was always told I was too much of something or not enough of something,” she said. “Too big, not skinny enough. Not Black enough, not white enough. Too feminine, not masculine enough. It was never just, ‘You’re just right, just the way you are.’”
In November, Airyn began hormone therapy, describing herself as a “late bloomer.” However, she found solace and inspiration from trans women who were openly sharing their stories in public spaces, especially on social media. “Trans women being honest and open, especially in public spaces… getting to see them in their success,” she explained, “I’m like, you know what? Maybe it’s not too late for me. Maybe I can start.”
She also admitted to concerns about how her family might perceive her transition. “I think part of me is concerned that [my family] will maybe still think of me as the person I was before the transition,” she shared.
A major part of her journey has been embracing her identity as a Black woman. “I think a big part of [my transition] is also the influence Black women have had on me,” she said. “I think stepping into this new identity, while also being more proud of my Blackness, makes me feel closer to them in some way.”