Robert De Niro’s daughter Airyn has spoken about the experience of coming out as transgender in an interview with Them published on Tuesday, April 29 where she discussed details about her upbringing and finding one’s identity.
She spoke about her upbringing
Airyn, 29, shared her experience of “stepping into this new identity” and revealed details about growing up and her life as one of Robert De Niro’s seven kids.
The Oscar winner shares Airyn and twin brother Julian with actress Toukie Smith.
Airyn said she felt she had never been seen
Speaking with the magazine, Airyn shared that “there’s a difference between being visible and being seen,” adding, “I’ve been visible. I don’t think I’ve been seen yet.”
Airyn mentioned how several outlets got “information wrong” about her when reporting about a recent appearance, explaining, “They just sort of reminded me that people really don’t know anything about me.”
She doesn’t feel like a ‘nepo baby’
Speaking about her upbringing and those outlets labeling her as a ‘nepo baby’, Airyn said, “I wasn’t brought up having a side part in one of dad’s movies or going to business meetings or attending premieres.”
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Her father gave his kids space to find themselves
Airyn also added that her father, Robert De Niro, had made it a point that each of his children find their own journey.
She said, “My dad was very big on us finding our own sort of path… I would want [success] to happen on my own merit.”
She shared her gratitude to her parents
Speaking about her parents, Airyn added, “Obviously, no parent is perfect, but I am grateful that both my parents agreed to keep me out of the limelight.”
“They have told me they wanted me to have as much of a normal childhood as possible.”
Airyn also spoke about growing up a ‘late bloomer’
Speaking candidly about the experience of growing up a “late bloomer,” Airyn said, “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.’”
Airyn said she drew inspiration from her mother
Talking about her mother and “the influence Black women have had on me,” Airyn shared that it encouraged her to begin hormone therapy last November.
“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,” she said.
She spoke about body image issues
Airyn also spoke about her struggles with body image, saying, “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’s studying to be a mental health counselor
As part of her mission to support others in their wellbeing, Airyn shared she’s studying to become a mental health counselor.
“People of color and queer people definitely need more mental health advocacy and support. So I’m hoping I’m able to do that,” she said.
