If you’ve ever wondered what it’s like to use a celebrity dating app, you might be in for a disappointment. Because largely, it’s just like any other dating app. Sure, it’s much harder to actually start using Raya, owing to the fact that one needs to be vouched for by several existing users, but like plenty of other apps, you pay a fee, you swipe and you chat.
As a single 28-year old living in London, I’ve used plenty of dating apps over the years and Raya has been one of them. I’ve used it all over the world and met some cool and interesting people but personally, I didn’t think it was any more impressive than any other app. Celebrities do use it and you’re likely to see them pop up, but the app itself is much like any other.
Raya used to have an air of secrecy about it and to an extent, it still does. Screenshotting a profile will see you served with a ban – users are more serious about their privacy than most. But thanks to articles like this one, which spill all the details about what it’s actually like to use the dating site for the rich and famous, there isn’t much left to the imagination any more.
How to join Raya
The first thing Raya’s moderators want to know is your social media handles. This is so they can check you out and decide if you’re a) hot b) successful c) influential or d) interesting enough to join the ranks of Raya. Next, you’ll need to be vetted and not just by Raya’s team.
You also have to know at least a couple of people who are already part of the Raya community. Luckily, the app makes it easy to see who in your phonebook is already a member of the app.
The next step is to send your requests via the app for a recommendation. And maybe send a few heads-up messages to your contacts too. If you’re lucky, your contacts will recommend you and the powers that be at Raya HQ will deem you cool enough to join the app.
So you’ve been accepted, what now?
Using Raya is pretty straightforward. Much like other dating apps, when you open Raya, you’ll be met with profiles that you can swipe on. If you’re lucky, you’ll get a swipe back. The only difference is that your swipes for the day are limited.
Raya prides itself on being a cut above the rest so it limits how many people you can scroll through. The idea is that these people are high-value – they’re special. So you should take time to have a look at their profiles and not speed through them like you might be used to doing on say, Tinder.
Personally, I’ve found this frustrating at times but I do also appreciate that it encourages users to remember that other users are actual human beings. This ultimately makes using a dating app a much more pleasant experience.
Raya also charges all users an annual fee to use the app. This isn’t the case with others – some are totally free and some require in-app purchases. Some charge based on gender, which is a controversial but fairly common approach that many people take issue with.
You might end up matching with your celebrity crush, but you might also find that Raya isn’t for you. Different apps suit different people and for some people, apps aren’t their preference at all. The number of people using dating apps has been on a downward trend for the past few years as more people aim to beat social isolation and embrace traditional ways of meeting a potential match.
The most important thing to remember, whether you’re using Raya or another app, is that the process of dating should be fun. If it feels like an app is too expensive or if using a particular app (or not having access to it) makes you feel negatively about yourself, you can opt out. Meeting someone should be a positive experience and should look however you want it to.
