Airyn De Niro. Photo: Instagram
In a powerful interview published this week by Them, Airyn De Niro, the 29-year-old daughter of Robert De Niro, revealed her transgender identity and the start of her hormone therapy journey.
Reflecting on a childhood where she felt like an outsider, Airyn, whose mother is Toukie Smith, described herself as a “late bloomer” who struggled with societal norms.
Finding inspiration in the stories of openly transgender women such as Laverne Cox and Marsha P. Johnson, she embraced her femininity last year.
The influence of Black women and her Black heritage has also been significant, with Airyn pointing to Halle Bailey‘s portrayal in “The Little Mermaid” as the catalyst for her decision to get dreadlocks.
While acknowledging her parents’ protection from public life and their encouragement of her own path, Airyn now seeks to be a beacon for others. Recognizing the current threats to transgender civil rights, she is pursuing a career as a mental health counselor to advocate for and support her community, especially queer people and people of color.
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