Who Is Airyn De Niro? Robert De Niro's Daughter Comes Out as Transgender, Shares Her Story

In a personal new interview, Airyn De Niro, daughter of Robert De Niro and model Toukie Smith, has publicly come out as a transgender woman, sharing her journey for the first time. At 29 years old, she has largely stayed out of the spotlight, but her story is one that resonates far beyond Hollywood legacy or last names.

“There’s a difference between being visible and being seen,” she told Them, a digital magazine that focuses on LGBTQ+ storytelling and awareness. Despite her last name, associated with the legendary actor, Airyn also made it clear she’s carving out a path entirely her own.

She spoke candidly about beginning hormone therapy in late 2024, working through body dysmorphia, and the quiet strength she’s drawn from Black women who’ve shaped her understanding of beauty and self. Growing up with her twin brother Julian, Airyn shared that her parents worked hard to give them a sense of normalcy, away from the public eye.

For years, Airyn managed to live outside the spotlight—but that changed just a few months ago when she was photographed while out with her father Robert De Niro. The images, taken before she had publicly come out, quickly spread across tabloids and ignited a wave of speculation, largely because so little was known about her at the time.

“Not only did they get information wrong about me... They just sort of reminded me that people really don’t know anything about me,” she added in her interview.

Though she remains fiercely protective of her privacy, especially with a father as famous as De Niro, Airyn has her sights set on a future in acting and modeling, and she often enjoys posting on Instagram, sharing her hobbies including gaming. At the same time, she’s pursuing a degree in mental health counseling to help others struggling with identity. At a time when trans narratives are often violently attacked in politics and misunderstood, Airyn’s quiet candor feels like a necessary shift.