Tag: Robert De Niro

Airyn De Niro, the 29-year-old daughter of Oscar-winning actor Robert De Niro and actress Toukie Smith, has publicly come out as a trans woman in a heartfelt new cover story for Them. With grace, honesty, and a deep understanding of identity, De Niro opens up about her gender journey, the cultural influences that helped guide her, and what it means to embrace authenticity in her late 20s.

“There Is Still Time”

De Niro’s story arrives at a cultural moment where late bloomers and second chances are being celebrated, echoing the now-iconic line from I Saw the TV Glow (2024): “There is still time.” For De Niro, that sentiment feels especially true.

“I started hormone therapy in November 2024,” she revealed in the interview. While her journey has included moments of hesitation and societal pressure, she has ultimately chosen self-love and openness—something she now hopes will inspire others.

“Trans women being honest and open, especially [in] public spaces like social media and getting to see them in their success… I’m like, ‘You know what? Maybe it’s not too late for me. Maybe I can start,’” she said.

 

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Mermaid Magic and the Power of Representation

A major turning point for De Niro came in the form of 2023’s The Little Mermaid, starring Halle Bailey. Seeing Bailey’s locs on screen inspired her to book her first appointment at a Black hair salon—a moment she calls transformational.

“I think a big part of [my transition] is also the influence Black women have had on me,” she said. “Stepping into this new identity, while also being more proud of my Blackness, makes me feel closer to them in some way.”

That intersection of race and gender identity—often erased or misunderstood—is central to De Niro’s story. Her lived experience as a Black trans woman gives depth and power to her coming out, which she approaches with both vulnerability and pride.

Battling Beauty Standards and Finding Self-Acceptance

Despite her current confidence, De Niro revealed she spent years contending with harsh societal pressures—especially within the LGBTQ+ community.

“[Gay men were] ruthless and mean,” she recalled. “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’s a candid look into how deeply those messages can cut, and how much strength it takes to unlearn them.

 

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Growing Up with Famous (and Supportive) Parents

As the daughter of Robert De Niro and Toukie Smith, De Niro has long existed adjacent to fame—though her parents, she says, made it a point to shield her from the public eye.

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

Her father, a known ally of the LGBTQ+ community, was honored by GLAAD in 2016 and previously opened up about his own father, Robert De Niro Sr., being a gay artist in the HBO documentary Remembering the Artist: Robert De Niro, Sr.

A Journey Just Beginning

De Niro is not only an actress and model but also studying to become a mental health counselor—work that reflects her deep investment in healing, identity, and helping others.

Her cover story is a powerful reminder that coming out has no deadline and that visibility, especially for Black trans women, matters more than ever.

You can read Airyn De Niro’s full interview now on Them.