In a heartfelt interview with Them, Airyn De Niro, daughter of Hollywood icon Robert De Niro and actress Toukie Smith, has publicly shared her journey as a transgender woman. The 29-year-old aspiring model and mental health advocate opened up about her personal transformation and the challenges she’s faced while navigating her identity.
Airyn, who has been visible in the media but never truly seen for who she is, reflected on her path to embracing her authentic self. “There’s a difference between being visible and being seen. I’ve been visible. I don’t think I’ve been seen yet,” she explained during the interview. Her comments came after a recent public appearance, which was misrepresented by the media, prompting her to correct the inaccuracies and make her voice heard.
In the conversation, Airyn also addressed the common label of being a “nepo baby,” a term used for individuals who gain opportunities due to their famous family ties. Pushing back against this narrative, she clarified, “I wasn’t brought up having a side part in one of dad’s movies or going to business meetings or attending premieres. My dad was very big on us finding our own sort of path… I would want [success] to happen on my own merit.”
Despite the spotlight on her parents, Robert De Niro and Toukie Smith, Airyn expressed her gratitude for their efforts to shield her and her siblings from unnecessary media attention. “They wanted me to have as much of a normal childhood as possible,” she said. This grounded upbringing allowed her to focus on her personal growth and career without the pressures often associated with fame.
During the interview, Airyn also opened up about the body image struggles and identity issues she faced growing up. She recalled being told she was “too much of something or not enough of something,” whether it was about her size, race, or femininity. “It was never just, ‘You’re just right, just the way you are,’” she admitted, acknowledging the pain of those judgments.
A pivotal moment in Airyn’s journey came when she began hormone therapy last November, a decision influenced by her mother and other Black women in her life. She expressed a desire to be an inspiration to others who may relate to her experiences, especially other Black, queer, and larger-bodied individuals who don’t fit the societal mold. “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 or heroin chic,” she said, emphasizing her mission to promote greater representation.
In addition to her aspirations in entertainment, Airyn is pursuing a degree in mental health counseling, aiming to support underrepresented communities. “People of colour and queer people definitely need more mental health advocacy and support. So I’m hoping I’m able to do that,” she shared.
Airyn’s candid interview has opened up an important conversation about identity, representation, and self-acceptance, offering a powerful message of resilience and the importance of living authentically.