From Lewis Capaldi to Channing Tatum, this is what it’s like on celeb dating app Raya
]
Raya is an exclusive dating app for the rich and famous, describing itself as an “online membership-community for dating, networking, and making new friends”. To even be considered to set up a Raya profile, one must either be invited by someone who’s already on the app via a “friend pass”, or go through a thorough “multi-faceted” application process, which includes providing a detailed job description and your Instagram credentials, so your content and follower-count can be checked.
According to The New York Times, only about eight per cent of applicants are accepted, making your chances of getting into the Raya dating app even slimmer than those of attending the University of Oxford. But swiping through celebrities, renowned CEOs and A-list athletes is not just a possibility for the rich and famous, 20-year-old student Emma tells us, as she herself has been a member of the exclusive dating site for over a year.
Emma (not her real name), first found out about Raya at the beginning of last year. A friend had mentioned to her that he had filled out an application and was currently on the waitlist, describing the app as a “really upmarket dating app that lots of celebrities use”. Having caught her interest, Emma also filled in an application and was invited to create a profile 24 hours later, once she paid the membership fee of roughly £6 per month.
Once in, the rules are simple with privacy being the main selling point of the application. Take screenshots and risk your profile being banned and don’t disclose private information about other members.
Emma told The Tab: “From what I know, I think it’s probably easier for girls to gain access to the app. I’ve heard that guys are waitlisted for much longer if they even get an invitation at all.
“When I first started using the app at the beginning of last year it was definitely a lot more exclusive than it is now, you would mainly see well-known celebrities and professional athletes, although it wasn’t uncommon to see profiles of influencers every so often.”
im a fast dating app swiper and i just swiped on channing tatum accidentally so fast on raya and now i will always wonder what could have been — cat (@catrific) October 21, 2020
Unlike other dating applications like Tinder, Bumble and Hinge, Raya is not location bound and shows you users from all over the world. Vogue writes: “People on Raya don’t take the subway; they fly to meet each other. Or at least, that’s the impression the app wants to give off.” A new updated feature includes a geo-location map so you can see the members that are currently in close proximity to you – a bit like Snapmaps, but classier.
Emma recalls that she set her age range up to “really high” out of curiosity, when she first gained access to the application. Channing Tatum, Owen Wilson and Tom Felton’s profiles are just a few among many of the household names she stumbled upon, opening up a new-found glimpse into all things celebrity, dating and glamour.
Once there’s a match, you have 10 days to message each other before the match runs out and you can’t contact the other person again; a similar expiration feature is also employed on Bumble, although Bumble only allows a window of 24 hours.
Emma describes that her experiences on Raya have shown her that a majority of members are quite obviously not looking for long-term relationships: “I think it’s more to do with hookup culture if I’m honest… I once matched with a well-known professional footballer but didn’t know much about him. We spoke for a while and he asked for my Snapchat, but once I searched him up on Google I found out he had a long-term girlfriend and kids.
“It’s easy to tell what someone’s after when you first start chatting to them, depending on how the conversation goes. You can tell straight away if someone is spending a majority of time talking about themselves and their achievements, or genuinely expresses an interest in your life and wants to know who you are as a person – so it’s obvious if they’re just in it for a hookup.”
Dating app catchphrases : Hinge: wanna date a guy named Caleb who’s a “senior content manager”? Bumble: Wanna date a guy named Josh who loves mescal? Tinder: Wanna date a guy named Dylan who has a six pack and doesn’t clean his bathroom? Raya: Wanna date Matthew Perry? — Eden Dranger (@Eden_Eats) February 6, 2020
Before the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic last year, Emma matched with a British actor who stars in a popular Netflix series about teenagers. Emma told The Tab: “I decided to go out on a date with him out of pure curiosity really – may as well give it a shot, I thought. If the date turned out to be bad then whatever, at least it would be an experience and a funny story to tell, but it definitely turned out to be very positive.
“Going into it I was nervous and scared, but the date showed me that he really is just a normal person. Once we’d met, had a couple of drinks and got talking I genuinely forgot that he was a celebrity, it was really nice to have such a candid and honest experience.”
The pair went for drinks at a bar and ended up seeing each other numerous times afterward until the pandemic hit, although they have stayed in contact and talk every now and again.
Emma added: “You do get good stories to tell, like telling your mates: ‘I matched with …!’, but after a while, the novelty wears off. I’m not really on it that much anymore, when compared to when I was first invited. I definitely felt starstruck regarding the exclusivity of it all; there’s no real other way to gain that kind of access, not for ‘normal’ people at least.
“I think Raya is a good way for famous people to meet normal people whilst doing a good job of keeping ‘stans’ out, because your profile has to be pre-approved, members understand to keep their chats on the down-low because you risk your account getting blocked if you take screenshots or pass on private details, and who would want to risk that? Obviously, it depends on who you’re chatting with and if you really end up meeting them in real life – my experience could’ve easily gone the other way, but I’m really lucky in the sense I met someone who’s very genuine and down to earth.”
Related stories recommended by this writer:
• Introducing DeuxMoi, the celebrity gossip account on Instagram you NEED to follow
• Hey celebs! Stop thinking you’re exempt from lockdown rules because you’re rich
• These are the celebs who have come out as anti-mask and anti-lockdown
Sam Smith signed up to Tinder by pals after failed efforts on celeb dating app Raya
]
SAM SMITH hasn’t had much luck in love, but the star’s pals are now taking over in the quest for romance.
I’ve learned the four-time Grammy winner has now turned to Tinder, in search of a partner, although it is Sam’s friends who are in charge of the profile and are vetting potential matches.
11 Sam Smith’s friends have signed the singer up to dating site Tinder Credit: Getty Images - Getty
The singer has previously been on the exclusive dating app Raya but after failing to bag a celebrity to settle down with, a down-to-earth lover is now more likely as Tinder is believed to have 50million active users.
A source said: “Sam has been single for ages now and pals are keen to find someone. It’s hard enough to meet someone normally, but in the past year, because of the pandemic, Sam’s love life has suffered.
“Friends are hoping they can find a regular person who isn’t bothered about Sam’s star power or anything like that.
“On Tinder, a lot of people haven’t believed it really is Sam because it’s not every day you see a superstar on there. But all of the matches are being vetted by friends, who are sending profiles to Sam in the hope that one of them could be The One.”
11 Sam’s friends are in charge of the profile and are vetting potential matches
11 The singer has previously been on the exclusive dating app Raya
Sam, who released third album Love Goes last year, has been single since splitting from 13 Reasons Why actor Brandon Flynn in 2018.
Speaking to me in October, Sam said that after coming out as non-binary, it wasn’t just boys that the singer was open to dating.
The Diamonds chart-topper explained: “I’ve never really kind of played by the rule book. I love people and whoever I fall for, that’s who I fall for. I don’t know who that’s going to be.
“Now I don’t know what gender they will be, to be quite honest, and that’s a freeing thing — to not be limited to one category of person.
11 Sam split from 13 Reasons Why actor Brandon Flynn in 2018 Credit: Instagram
“I just fall in love with whoever I fall in love with.”
Last year Sam also admitted to being kicked off another dating app, Hinge, saying: “They chucked me off of it after one night because they thought I was a catfish pretending to be me.”
If Tinder doesn’t work, I’m sure Love Island will have you in the summer, Sam.
Olly’s nights of sin
Olly Alexander has revealed the whole cast of It’s A Sin were in tears during the read-through of the new Channel 4 drama.
Since the first episode aired on Friday, the show has been praised for its portrayal of five young people whose lives are turned upside down by the Aids crisis in the Eighties.
11 Olly Alexander stars in new Channel 4 drama It’s A Sin Credit: Getty - Contributor
Speaking on The Graham Norton Show with Virgin Radio, the Years & Years frontman said: “It was emotional on set. On the day we met at the read-through we were all in tears reading it.
“Then rehearsals and filming were emotional. But we had the best time.”
The show was filmed before lockdown and Olly said they were partying in Heaven nightclub for the shoot and he must have kissed about 100 different boys.
He added: “Now I think, ‘Wow, I can’t believe we did that’.”
Covid-hit Rob not ready for angels
Robbie Williams has spoken for the first time since The Sun revealed he’d got Covid, saying the virus was “depressing”.
But the Angels singer put on a brave face and played it down to his fans. In a chat with them on his official app, he said: “Wasn’t scared at all.
11 Robbie Williams says having the coronavirus was ‘depressing’ Credit: PA:Press Association
Maybe I’m delusional but I wasn’t.
“Day six/seven was depressing . . . because of the isolation and the tiredness and because I couldn’t see the kids, but thankfully it was very mild.”
Last week we told how Robbie was in quarantine in a £106,000-a-week Caribbean villa after testing positive for Covid.
The star flew to St Barts with wife Ayda Field and their four children on December 28.
11 Robbie flew to St Barts with wife Ayda Field and their four children Credit: Getty Images - Getty
A source said: “Robbie’s been fairly sick. He’s confined to the villa where he is staying with his family.
“It’s not exactly the worst place in the world to be quarantined, although he cannot go to the beach. He will have to remain in quarantine for up to 14 days.”
No matter where he is, Rob’s got that British stiff upper lip.
It’s a labour of glove for James
James Arthur has secret hopes of becoming an MMA fighter but feels his busy music career is preventing him.
Asked if he was keen to properly pursue mixed martial arts, the singer who we’ve mocked up here in combat gear, said: “I am, it’s just that the music career has been so consuming.
11 James Arthur has secret hopes of becoming an MMA fighter
“I get a couple of boxing sessions in a week but I’ve never had the chance to focus on any other discipline really.
“I’ve always wanted to, but there’s not been a lot of it around in the areas I’ve lived in.”
Asked during an Instagram Live session what his walk-out song would be, he added: “It would probably be something by Bring Me The Horizon – something ‘screamo’ and a bit dark.”
I suppose one of his touching ballads wouldn’t strike much fear into his opponent.
Selena’s all revved up
Selena Gomez got her fans all revved up as she posed next to a vintage Mercedes in her latest Instagram picture.
The American pop star posted the photograph online to plug her upcoming trainer collection with Puma.
11 Selena Gomez poses next to a vintage Mercedes in her latest Instagram post Credit: Puma
Along with flogging her fashion wares, Selena has been busy working on new music.
Fans of the singer are convinced she’ll drop a Spanish language album following the success of her second Spanish single, De Una Vez, in honour of her Mexican heritage.
Kate’s furry friend
They say couples who style together stay together – and it seems the same can be said for people and their pets.
Movie beauty Kate Beckinsale revealed she’d bought matching winter clobber for herself, her dog Myf and her cat Clive in a fun new Instagram snap.
11 Kate Beckinsale bought matching winter clobber for herself and her dog
Posing with her furry friends in matching fuchsia gear, Kate, who is based in Los Angeles, captioned the snap: “We heard it was under 70° for a sec.”
Doing it like a dude Jessie J has enlisted the help of hit songwriter Ryan Tedder for her next album. The Brit has been holed up in an LA studio for the past week with the One Republic frontman, who has helped pen songs for Beyonce, Adele, Ariana Grande and Taylor Swift. Jessie is in good company there, and after a quiet few years some big hit singles are just what she needs.
Vogue’s a cover star
The snowy weather is making some of us feel blue but that’s not the case for Vogue Williams.
She was seen beaming as she wore the colour to wrap up against the London chill yesterday.
11 Vogue Williams was seen beaming while out and about in the London chill Credit: Splash News
Vogue sported her chic blue coat as she was pictured leaving the Heart FM studios in the capital following her weekend breakfast radio show.
Most read in Bizarre Exclusive ORA & OUT Rita Ora splits from boyfriend Romain Gavras after lockdown forces them apart Exclusive ROTTEN RAPS ROYAL Sex Pistols’ Johnny Rotten says Harry should return money to the taxpayer Exclusive SKATE IT OFF DOI bosses warn stars if they test positive for Covid they’re out of the show Exclusive KENYA FORGIVE ME? Dominic West’s wife joins him on Kenya trip after ‘fling’ with Lily James Exclusive QUEEN KATH Katherine Ryan wants perks after beating Posh Spice to Sexiest Woman crown Exclusive WAG CLAUSE Rebekah Vardy’s key demand to avoid Wagatha Christie court showdown with Coleen
The model, who has two children, Theo and Gigi, with husband Spencer Matthews, recently opened up about the guilt she feels balancing her work with childcare.
But she revealed the celebrity pair were already considering trying for a third baby – just five months after Gigi was born.
She told fans: “We would love one more for sure. We always said four but our house is very busy so we would have to see.”
Hot or not? HOT Noel Gallagher for creating a new Oasis record after 12 years. Olivia Rodrigo is on for a third week at No1 with Drivers License. James Argent deserves praise for reaching out for help with his weight issues. NOT Zayn Malik’s second album failed to make any kind of impact on the charts. Kendall and Kylie Jenner are pushing their luck going on yet another luxury holiday. I’m sure Brooklyn Beckham will come to regret that new tattoo on his neck.
Sam Smith performs on BBC’s Big Night In from his £12m mansion
GOT a story? RING The Sun on 0207 782 4104 or WHATSAPP on 07423720250 or EMAIL exclusive@the-sun.co.uk
Julkkiksilla on oma ”Tinder” – Nämä ehdot tulee täyttää, jotta pääsee käyttäjäksi
]
Raya-deittisovellukseen hyväksytään vain kahdeksan prosenttia hakijoista. Ehtoina ovat kuuluisuus sekä raha.
Raya-sovelluksella julkkikset voivat löytää seuraa. Adobe Stock / AOP
Erilaisia deittisovelluksia on tarjolla valtavat määrät. Harva niistä on kuitenkin tarkoitettu yhtä pienelle käyttäjäkunnalle kuin Raya, jonka käyttäjäksi ei voi vain liittyä, vaan sitä varten on tehtävä erillinen hakemus. Useimpien hakemus ei johda sisäänpääsyyn, sillä Raya kertoo, että vain noin 8 prosenttia hakijoista hyväksytään jäseniksi.
Raya on tarkoitettu julkkiksille sekä rikkaille, jotka eivät halua etsiä seuraa perinteisistä sovelluksista. Sovelluksessa vastaan tuleekin esimerkiksi malleja, näyttelijöitä ja muusikkoja.
Business Insider kirjoitti vuoden 2019 lopussa, että esimerkiksi näyttelijä Channing Tatum haki seuraa sovelluksessa. Sovelluksessa on nähty myös esimerkiksi Demi Lovato, Matthew Perry, Kelly Osbourne, Joe Jonas, Lily Allen, Emma Watson, Cara Delevingne, Elijah Wood, Skrillex, Drew Barrymore, Tommy Lee, Sharon Stone, Moby ja Ben Affleck.
Raya on perustettu vuonna 2015. Sovellus ilmoittaa App Storessa kuukausihinnakseen 10,99 euroa. Lisäksi käyttäjä voi maksaa esimerkiksi suorista yhteydenotoista.
Raya-sovellus löytyy Applen App Storesta. Kuvakaappaus
Raya ei näytä vain lähistöllä olevien käyttäjien profiileja, vaan tilejä voi katsella maailmanlaajuisesti. Sovelluksen kautta on mahdollista keskustella matchien kanssa.
Sovellus liitetään Instagramiin niin, että käyttäjät näkevät toistensa Instagram-kuvia. Profiilissa pyörivän kuvakarusellin taustalla soitetaan henkilön valitsemaa musiikkia. Sovelluksessa ei ole mahdollista ottaa kuvakaappauksia.
Miten hakea jäsenyyttä?
New York Times kertoo, että vuonna 2018 Rayan hakemusjonossa odotti 100 000 ihmistä. Tuolloin mukaan hyväksyttyjä käyttäjiä oli palvelussa 10 000.
Raya pyytää jokaista hakijaa käymään ensin päässään ajatusleikin 10 hengen illallisesta, josta pitäisi tulla ikimuistoinen ja keskustelurikas:
– Ketä kutsuisit tällaiseen? Ymmärtäisivätkö muut osallistujat, miksi muut on valittu tähän erityiseen tilaisuuteen? Raya kysyy.
Julkkisten kiinnostusta Rayaa kohtaan saattaa selittää se, että osalla on ollut vaikeuksia kaikkien saatavilla olevissa deittisovelluksissa. Esimerkiksi kun näyttelijä Sharon Stone yritti käyttää suosittua Bumble-sovellusta, hänen tilinsä suljettiin, koska hänet ilmiannettiin valeprofiilina ja palvelun moderaattorit eivät uskoneet, että käyttäjä oikeasti on Basic Instinct -elokuvasta tuttu tähti.
Tätä vaaditaan
Hakemuksia käsittelee tietokone, mutta myös 500 nimettömän henkilön komitea. Sovelluksen sivuilla luetellaan kolme kohtaa, joiden täytyy täyttyä, jos toivoo pääsevänsä sisään.
- Työ
”Mikä työssäsi tai siinä, miten vietät aikaasi erottaa sinut toisista luovana henkilönä?” Raya kysyy.
Sisäänpääsymahdollisuuksia nopeuttaa, jos henkilö on muusikko tai näyttelijä, joka on työnsä kautta tunnettu julkisuuden henkilö, mutta sisäänpääsyyn voi riittää jo se, että hakijan ammatti on komitean mielestä mielenkiintoinen. Esimerkiksi kiinnostavien aihepiirien tutkijat, värikkäät yrittäjäpersoonat, suunnittelijat, kirjailijat tai valokuvaajat voivat päästä sisään, jos onnistuvat hakemuksellaan vakuuttamaan raadin.
- Tunnettavuus
”Yhteenkuuluvuuden tunne tekee Rayasta erityisen, kuten muiden käyttäjien läheiset välit, samanlaiset työt sekä jaetut kiinnostuksenkohteet”, sivustolla luetellaan.
Raya pyrkii kokemukseen, jossa sisään päässeet eivät ole vain sovelluksen käyttäjiä, vaan kokevat olevansa osa samanhenkisten ihmisten muodostamaa yhteisöä. Siksi tehokkain tapa päästä jäseneksi on se, että saa vähintään yhden Rayan nykyisen jäsenen puoltamaan omaa jäsenhakemustaan.
Ilman puoltajiakin voi päästä jäseneksi, mutta odotusaika saattaa tällöin olla useita kuukausia tai jopa vuoden.
- Jotain ekstraa
Rayan mukaan ”Nasan tiedemiehet, syöpätutkijat, runoilijat, taidemaalarit ja mielenkiintoiset ihmiset kaikilta elämänaloilta”, ovat voineet päästä mukaan, vaikka heillä ei olisi ollutkaan tuttuja sovelluksessa.
Yksi tapa osoittaa olevansa kiinnostava voi olla se, että omistaa massiivisen seuraajajoukon Instagramissa.
Käyttöliittymä muistuttaa muita deittisovelluksia. Kuvakaappaus
Vaikka Rayasta sanotaan, että se on tarkoitettu rikkaille ja kuuluisille, niin lopulta pelkkä rikkauskaan ei riitä sisäänpääsyn syyksi, jos hakija ei vaikuta muuten mielenkiintoiselta.
– Meille tulee paljon hakemuksia, joissa esitellään Lamborghini, huvijahti ja oma jetti, ja meidän asenteemme niihin on, että ”palataan asiaan”, yrityksen perustaja Daniel Gendelman kertoi.
Raya myös kertoo hyvin suoraan, kenelle deittisovellus taas ei ole tarkoitettu:
- Alaikäisille
Alle 18-vuotiaita ei päästetä palveluun. Raya kertoo vahvistavansa tämän henkilöllisyystodistuksella.
- Aggressiivisille
Jos hakijalla on viitteitä vihapuheesta, rasismista, kiusaamisesta, kiihkomielisyydestä tai väkivaltaisuudesta, ei häntä haluta sisään. Sopimaton käytös palvelun sisällä johtaa myös nopeasti potkuihin.
- Leveilijöille
Jos henkilö leveilee liikaa rahoillaan ja varallisuudellaan, voidaan tämän hakemus mitätöidä.
”Se, kuinka paljon tai vähän rahaa jollakin on, ei ole Rayassa valuuttaa. Se, miten joku viettää aikaansa ja kenen kanssa, sekä se, miten he voivat vahvistaa yhteisöä, on Rayalle tärkeämpää”.
Pettynyt käyttäjä
Amerikkalainen kirjailija ja koomikko Ginny Hogan kirjoitti Elite Dailyssa heinäkuussa 2019 Raya-kokemuksistaan. Hän päätyi poistamaan sovelluksen kolmansien siellä sopimiensa treffien jälkeen.
– Olin niin innoissani, kun Raya hyväksyi profiilini. Olin kuullut siitä paljon ystäviltäni ja halusin epätoivoisesti mukaan, Hogan kirjoittaa.
Käyttäjiä voi etsiä ympäri maailmaa. Kuvakaappaus
Los Angelesissa asuvan Hoganin mukaan valtaosa hänelle ehdotetuista deiteistä työskenteli viihdealalla, mikä on tavallista myös muissa vastaavissa sovelluksissa.
Hogan kuvaili sovellusta tylsemmäksi kuin muut deittisovellukset. Hänen mukaansa Rayasta puuttuu flirttiä sekä hauskuus, ja keskustelu on enemmänkin ”Business casual” -luokkaa. Treffit vaikuttivat hissipuheilta tai vain kontaktien etsimiseltä.
Kaikki julkkiksetkaan eivät ole löytäneet rakkautta Rayasta. The Sun kertoi viime viikolla, että laulaja Sam Smith oli käyttänyt Rayaa, mutta päättänyt lopulta liittyä Tinderiin petyttyään rikkaiden ja kauniiden sovellukseen.