Robert De Niro‘s daughter, Airyn, might have grown up as the child of one of the most iconic actors of all time — but she’s determined to forge her own path in Hollywood.
In a new interview with Them, the 29-year-old opened up about coming out as queer, her gender transition journey, and why she won’t rely on her famous father’s connections to find success. As Airyn explained, though she’s been femme-presenting since she was a tween, she found the courage to start hormone therapy last November after watching other trans women share their stories.
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“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,” she said. “Maybe I can start.”
Airyn says her mom, actress and model Toukie Smith, has been a major influence on the way she carries herself as a woman.
“The way [my mom] would conduct or hold herself, the way that I saw her interact with others in public when I was younger, I see myself emulating that in some way,” she said. “Whether it’s just turning on the charm or not putting on a mask, but wanting to be feminine in a way that’s inviting and warm and welcoming.”
According to Airyn, while her parents have always been supportive, she was encouraged to be independent.
“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,” she said. “I would want [success] to happen on my own merit.”
Of course, building a career in the entertainment industry can be incredibly challenging, particularly for trans individuals — but Airyn is determined.
“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. “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.”
“I want queer people of color and bigger-bodied people to have an Alex Consani. I want queer people of color and bigger-bodied people to have a Hunter Schafer,” Airyn continued, referring to the Euphoria star. “A part of me has always wanted to model and sort of follow my mom’s footsteps. Honestly, if I could be on the cover of Vogue with her or recreating one of her pictures, that would be a dream come true.”
When asked what she wants people to see when they look at her, Airyn said she wishes “people saw someone who is trying their hardest to heal from growing up not feeling good about themselves,” adding, “[And] in the process of that, trying to make other people feel good about themselves.”
