Robert De Niro’s daughter Airyn comes out as transgender, hopes to 'inspire' other Black queer women

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Robert De Niro's daughter, Airyn De Niro, 29, is opening up about her journey of coming out as a transgender woman.

The daughter of 'Awakenings' star and former model Toukie Smith is now sharing what it meant to come into terms with her own identity, while still holding close the values of privacy her parents instilled in her.

Robert De Niro’s daughter Airyn comes out as transgender

Airyn De Niro revealed she began hormone therapy in November 2024, but her path wasn’t always easy. She spoke about not feeling accepted growing up, saying she was often told she was “too much of something or not enough of something.”

"[Gay men were] ruthless and mean," Airyn told Them Magazine in an interview published April 29.

"I didn't even fit that beauty standard, which is thin, white, muscular, or just super fit, masculine. I was always told I was too much of something or not enough of something growing up: 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."

She shared that Black women were a major influence on her during her transition. "I think a big part of [my transition] is the influence Black women have had on me."

"I think stepping into this new identity, while also being more proud of my Blackness, makes me feel closer to them in some way," she said.

Airyn De Niro says it's never too late to live her truth

Airyn De Niro credits seeing other trans women like Laverne Cox, Michaela Jae Rodriguez, and Jools Lebron in media for helping her believe she could step into her truth, too.

"Trans women being honest and open, especially public spaces like social media and getting to see them in their success," she said, according to Daily Mail. "I'm like, you know what? Maybe it's not too late for me."

As the twin sister of Julian De Niro, Airyn said, "Maybe I can start."

She added that she wants to be an inspiration to others.

"I'd want to hopefully be an inspiration for at least one other person like me who is Black, who is queer, who's not a size extra small," Airyn said. "I'd want to see more trans women, more Black women who are maybe bigger-bodied or don't fit the mold of super thin."

Airyn De Niro reflects on growing up outside the spotlight

While she is the daughter of a legendary actor, Airyn De Niro shared that she was not raised in the spotlight and had to find her way into the industry.

"I wasn't brought up having a side part in one of dad's movies or going to business meetings or attending premieres," she said.

She continued, "My dad was very big on us finding our own sort of path. I would want [success] to happen on my own merit."

Airyn said she looks up to her mother, Toukie Smith, as her ultimate role model.

"Whenever I'm at a family gathering on my dad's side, people would always talk about how much they love my mom and how memorable she was and how happy my dad was when he was with her," she shared.

"I want to be like that… I want to be remembered the way that people remember her."

She acknowledged that her parents made a deliberate decision to shield her from fame while she was growing up.

"Obviously, no parent is perfect, but I am grateful that both my parents agreed to keep me out of the limelight," Airyn said. "They wanted it very private. They have told me they wanted me to have as much of a normal childhood as possible."