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Airyn De Niro on the cover of Them.
The 29-year-old opened up about transitioning, her parents' reaction, and what inspired her to move forward.
Airyn De Niro — the daughter of Academy Award-winning actor Robert De Niro — has come out as a trans woman in a new cover story for Them. At age 29, her real-life story and concerns about coming out as trans in her late 20s beautifully echoes one of the most iconic lines in 2024's I Saw the TV Glow, delivered by none other than Jack Haven: "There is still time."
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As an actress and model who's also studying to become a mental health counselor, De Niro discussed the big influence that the 2023 live-action film The Little Mermaid, starring Halle Bailey, had on her decision to move forward with her gender journey.
"The 29-year-old's first appointment at a Black hair salon, which she made after seeing Halle Bailey's locs in The Little Mermaid, marks a turning point in her journey toward liberatory gender expression," Ava Pauline Emilione wrote in this cover story for Them.
"I think a big part of [my transition] is also the influence Black women have had on me," De Niro explained. "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 added, "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.'"
In the cover story, De Niro disclosed that she started hormone therapy in November 2024. Over the years, however, she did face her fair share of obstacles that actively discouraged her from embracing her trans identity.
"[Gay men were] ruthless and mean," De Niro told the publication. "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.'"
The cover star, whose famous parents are actors Robert De Niro and Toukie Smith, also commented on how her parents reacted to her disclosure about being trans. Her father, Robert De Niro, is a longtime ally of the LGBTQ+ community and was honored for this work by GLAAD in 2016 with the nonprofit's Excellence in Media Award. (Robert De Niro's father was a gay artist, and the actor shared this family story in an HBO doc, Remembering the Artist: Robert De Niro, Sr., in 2014.)
Her mother, Toukie Smith, was also an actress best known for starring in films and TV shows like 227, Goosed, Joe's Apartment, and The Preacher's Wife.
When asked about how her parents reacted to her coming-out as trans, De Niro said:
"Obviously no parent is perfect, 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."
You can read this full interview with Airyn De Niro on Them.
Bernardo Sim is the deputy editor of Out. He's also a staff contributor to The Advocate, PRIDE, and other equalpride publications. Born in Brazil, he currently lives in South Florida.
You can follow Bernardo Sim on Instagram. Otherwise, you can find him on Bluesky, Threads, X/Twitter, and TikTok.
Bernardo Sim is the deputy editor of Out. He's also a staff contributor to The Advocate, PRIDE, and other equalpride publications. Born in Brazil, he currently lives in South Florida.
You can follow Bernardo Sim on Instagram. Otherwise, you can find him on Bluesky, Threads, X/Twitter, and TikTok.
