Raya; what is the dating app celebrities are using to find love and can anyone sign up for the service?

Raya Dating App Hero

Those curious about how celebrities search for love like the rest of us may have come across one word: Raya. From Matthew Perry’s dating profile on the site that went viral (and led to security changes on the app) to Channing Tatum looking for a new companion following his split from Jessie J in 2019, Raya is the go-to source The rich and famous become more likely to meet other like-minded people – with a similar income.

Raya is unique in the online dating world with the platform positioning itself as an exclusive space tailored to individuals in the creative industries. Raya, sometimes called “Illuminati Tinder,” employs a discreet, anonymous selection committee that evaluates potential members based on their presence on Instagram.

This process creates a virtual environment reminiscent of mysterious, unmarked nightclubs, but accessible via a smartphone app. The user base consists not only of celebrities and modeling stars, but also of vloggers, influencers and people with a bank balance that many of us only hope to have.

NEWARK, NEW JERSEY – SEPTEMBER 12: (EDITOR’S NOTE: A special effects camera filter was used for this image.) Demi Lovato attends the 2023 Video Music Awards at the Prudential Center on September 12, 2023 in Newark, New Jersey. (Photo by Mike Coppola/Getty Images for MTV)

While Raya shares the common goal of using celebrity and status to create an air of exclusivity with other dating services, its approach seems smarter. Unlike The League, another private dating app that gained attention through extensive media coverage and significant initial funding, Raya has deliberately kept a low profile since its launch in March 2015. Although the user base is diverse, the people on Raya are generally more diverse and are better known in online circles than those found on traditional dating platforms.

Can anyone sign up for Raya?

No – unlike other dating apps, Raya is a private dating app available only to iOS users (iPhone, iPad, etc.) and requires registering an account, which is then verified by the service to ensure maximum privacy for to ensure the large clientele included in her list of people looking for love.

A 2019 report from Business Insider reported that only 8% of applicants were approved to join the service. So for the rest of us, we have to settle for using Tinder or Grindr or meeting someone at a social gathering place. Excuse me!

The story goes on

Which celebrities have admitted to using Raya?

In her documentary “Simply Complicated,” Lovato revealed her Raya experience, explaining, “I just deleted it out of respect for the person I was with, then we broke up and I moved on.” [I couldn’t]She told Harper’s Bazaar in April 2020.

NEWARK, NEW JERSEY – SEPTEMBER 12: Lil Nas (Photo by Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images)

After his split from Jessie J in November 2019, Tatum hooked up with Raya. His profile song was “Brown Sugar” by D’Angelo, Us Weekly exclusively revealed.

During his “Carpool Karaoke” appearance in March 2023, Lil Nas shared that he discussed this with James Corden during the show.

In a June 2022 interview with Vanity Fair, Jonas confirmed his use of Raya and joked, “This rumor is true. I mean, who wasn’t?”

During an appearance on “Busy Tonight” in April 2019, Lizzo humorously explained, “I say I’m dating, but that’s a very active verb. An active verb is also swipe. I wipe very hard,” while discussing her experience with Raya.