Do you want to know what it takes to get onto Raya or what life is like to potentially date someone famous? It may be hard to find out… but it’s far from impossible.
Depending on who you speak to, dating apps can be a great or an awful way to meet people, but I imagine being a celebrity trying to find love makes things more complicated.
Who knows what the general public’s intentions are when it comes to dating a celeb?
Well, if you’re reading this, it is highly likely that you are considered the “general public” and want to date someone famous, or at least find out how to on the exclusive app, Raya.
Raya, not to be confused with the animated dragon, is a dating app that launched in 2015 and was intended to be an invite-only platform to let the famous mingle. There has been plenty of A-listers spotted on the app since its inception. Saskia Marriott, the lead presenter from TikTok told us she matched with F1 driver, Lando Norris, and British heartthrob Lewis Capaldi. Perhaps he wants his heart broken so he can finally write that second album?
Music artist Mike Posner, has even been known to accompany his pictures with his own songs, which is a unique feature on the app, but I mean, if you could, you would, right?
Other notable names spotted in the Raya safari include singer Sam Fender, English footballer Mason Mount, Diplo and none other than Ben Affleck (obviously before his marriage with JLo).
The first question people usually ask is how can I grab a date with one of these A-listers so you can live out the life of fame that’s been waiting for you? Well, you’re probably more likely to find a pot of gold than figure out a way to get on the app.
According to numerous reports, only 8% of applicants are accepted onto the app, so I wouldn’t hold your breath. The app, therefore, has a higher rejection rate than Harvard Business School.
The key that lets you into the exclusive club… referrals.
Katieyowyow, (a name that I'm sure isn’t on her birth certificate) is a TikToker and a former member of the app. She was banned for speaking out about Raya, which you’re not allowed to do… So, she told us: “For some people, it can take one, two, three referrals.
“Someone the other day commented on my TikTok and said they’d been on the waiting list for six years!
“I remember after a month of not getting rejected, I went back into the app, and I thought, who could I ask for a referral? There was someone who was a CEO at a company where I used to work.
“My thought process was, is it that weird to ask for a referral, even if I’m not that close with the person anymore? We spoke sparingly maybe once a year, but I don’t think they’re going to judge me for it? I don’t have to say anything else. I don’t have to leave them a message. I pressed a couple of referrals from these types of people, and a week later, I got accepted.”
So, should you know a famous face who is already on the app, perhaps you go to the gym and chat about workouts with Channing Tatum, or you and Lizzo like to have a chin wag over afternoon tea, they can do you a huge favour and provide a recommendation, but even that doesn’t always guarantee you a golden ticket.
Lynn Kate, a beauty and fashion Instagram influencer with over 165,000 followers, told us sometimes a referral from someone already on the app isn’t enough to get you into the club every time.
“I did it once with a friend and she didn’t get excepted. She’s on the waiting list and has been for a couple of months.
“People have commented on my video and asked if I can refer them, but I don’t know them and I don’t want to give out my number. I don’t know who they are.”
The desperation to get onto the app within the general public is rooted in an innate problem in today’s society: the fear of missing out. FOMO is the number one killer of all “lazy days”, and it has now adapted to spread in the world of dating apps.
“I think it’s because it’s exclusive and not everyone can get into it”, Lynn Kate told us.
“A lot of people say there are celebrities on there so it could be a way in. You’re in the game a little bit. You can meet a celebrity.
“I did keep Raya because I’ve fallen into the “it’s exclusive” trap and who knows, maybe the right guy will match with me or like my profile?
“It’s more of a status thing. I haven’t cancelled my subscription yet or stopped paying and I’m clinging onto it because you never know.
“What if I find the love of my life? What if we connect? What if we go on a date? It’s so hard to get into the app, so now that I’m on it, I’m holding onto it.
“I could connect with like-minded people. I mean have I really connected yet? No. Have I had a success story? No, but I like the idea of that.
“Raya gives you a little bit more of a rush, there are some really cool people on here with status, not that I’m looking for that, but I like that feeling.
“I think it’s a huge ego thing for some people, like ‘watch me connect with this person’. They’ll say ‘hey’ and after that, I’m over it.”
Just last week, Lily Allen admitted she met her husband, David Harbour (or as he’s more commonly known, Hopper from Stranger Things), on Raya. During the Interview on the Jonathon Ross Show, Allen claimed she was unaware of who he was, and hadn’t seen Stranger Things.
This confirms two things… Lily Allen is uncultured, and seemingly “normal people” are on the “celebrity dating app”.
“People always say, oh I bet like teachers aren’t on there, but I have seen a couple of teachers”, Katie told us.
“Yes, a lot of people work in the entertainment and creative industry. There are a lot of producers, photographers, and models, but there’s more of a spectrum than you would think.
“I will say this. Out of all the apps I have used, I don’t think Raya is the best app for dating, but the attractive scale on there is something different.
“I’ve had people leave me comments on TikTok and they’re like it’s just like any other app, what makes it different? I will say, I have never seen that many slew of attractive people in one app.”
A mix of hot teachers and wannabe reality stars sprinkled with a couple of A-listers sounds like an impressive cocktail. That ponders the question, why does a dating app that claims to be exclusive, have ordinary people roaming it?
Is there anyone not represented on the app? Lynn Kate seems to think so…
“The app is just a little weird. It does lack diversity. I don’t know if that’s the app’s fault, I’m not pointing any blame, but it lacks diversity and that’s a problem I have with it.
“I have no idea why [it’s not diverse]. I’m trying to figure that out for myself because I know others on TikTok who are people of colour, just like me, and they’re on the app, but I’m not seeing anybody else like me.”
As Raya has grown, it has expanded across a range of industries and is now also no longer just considered by users as a dating app.
It now offers networking opportunities. So, if you want to chat with sexy entrepreneurs in your area, then the Tinder x LinkedIn collaboration known as Raya may be worth a try.
TikTok presenter, Saskia Marriott says: “It’s a social-climbing app that’s all. In my personal opinion, I think it’s a great way to network but I don’t think it’s a good way to date.
“I don’t know if that’s because I’m not a model… or because I’m not famous! But no one was really interested in me on it, so I couldn’t be arsed.
“I’d say the split is around 70% businessmen and business owners, 20% influencers, and the final 10% are celebrities. I really hope that makes 100% because I am very tired!
“I don’t think people take it seriously because it’s either celebrities and they often only match with more or other celebrities.
“Then it’s also just filled with a lot of businessmen. I also matched with bloody Diplo… Who lives in LA! The app’s not even location-based, which makes it hard to have anything serious.”
Considering everything above, paired with the hefty $9.99 a month subscription fee to just access the app (and let’s not even go into all the added bonuses you can buy), is the long-haul waiting list really worth it? Lynn Kate tells her opinion.
“I’m serious, if you’re dying to get into this app, I’ll just tell you. I’m on the app, it’s not worth it. Don’t obsess over it. Don’t be sad if you don’t get in or if you don’t have referrals.
“I haven’t heard any success stories and I’m sure a lot of people pay for it, delete the app, leave it for a year and then come back to it.
“I’ve gone on more Hinge dates than Raya dates and I’ll probably go back to Hinge when I’m bored.”
Saskia quite simply puts it.
“I would rather put that sum of money a month towards my Pret A Manger subscription… Which I do.”