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Robert De Niro's 29-year-old daughter Airyn has publicly come out as transgender in a candid profile published by Them magazine on April 29, 2025. Her revelation comes shortly after making a rare public appearance with her father, which sparked significant public interest.
"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," Airyn told Them. "They have told me they wanted me to have as much of a normal childhood as possible."
Born in 1995 to the legendary actor and actress Toukie Smith, Airyn has largely remained outside public scrutiny until now. This privacy was intentional, reflecting her parents' commitment to providing her with normalcy despite Robert's fame.
The recent attention following her public appearance with her father made Airyn realize that "people really don't know anything about me," prompting her decision to share her story more openly.
Airyn spoke candidly about her experience growing up with body image challenges. "I always grew up a bigger-bodied person," she recalled. "Everybody else in the family [was] relatively thin or fit; I was not, so I sort of stood out like a sore thumb and there wasn't anybody in my family that could relate to that experience."
The "nepo baby" label has followed Airyn, but she firmly rejects this characterization. "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 explained. "I would want [success] to happen on my own merit."
Despite her famous lineage, Airyn is still working to establish herself professionally. She has auditioned for notable roles, including the character Jules in "Euphoria" (which ultimately went to Hunter Schafer), but continues building her acting resume independently.
Robert De Niro, now 81, has seven children in total. Besides Airyn, he has Drea and Raphael with ex-wife Diahnne Abbott, Julian with Toukie Smith, Elliot and Helen with ex-wife Grace Hightower, and his youngest, Gia, with current girlfriend Tiffany Chen.
Airyn's coming out represents a significant personal milestone. By sharing her identity publicly, she takes control of her narrative while acknowledging the protective environment her parents created. Her story highlights the complex balance between privacy and authenticity that children of celebrities must navigate.
As Airyn steps into the spotlight on her own terms, she brings attention to transgender visibility while emphasizing her desire to forge her own path separate from her father's legendary status in Hollywood.
