Single or not, you have probably heard of Raya - the celebrity dating app that is notoriously difficult to gain access to. The exclusive, membership-based platform was launched in as a dating app for people from creative industries but has since turned into what one New York Times journalist described as 'Illuminati Tinder '. In the nearly years since Daniel Gendelman created this secret society of ultra-desirable singletons, it has attracted A-list Hollywood stars, Grammy-winners, Olympic athletes, and influencers with millions of followers to boot.
The reason celebrities flocked to Raya as soon as the 'Soho House' of dating apps opened its doors has to do with founder Daniel Gendelman's almost-militant rules for entry that relegated hundreds of thousands of hopefuls to a never-ending waitlist. But have those rules been somewhat relaxed? And, more importantly, does Raya live up to the celeb-induced hype once you've scaled its impossibly high walls?
Oscar-winner Charlize Theron has reportledy signed up to celebrity dating app Raya after splitting from model boyfriend Alex Dimitrijevic. Reddit and TikTok are littered with stories of regular people - boasting neither social media clout nor worldwide fame - who have successfully infiltrated Raya to find themselves within dating distance of stars like Channing Tatum, Lizzo, Drew Barrymore, Shawn Mendes, Charlize Theron, and Chace Crawford.
And while posting about their exploits may have gotten them banned from Raya, how did they find themselves seated at Gendelman's private dinner party in the first place? The one-stop-shop for information about everything under the sun, Reddit does not disappoint when it comes to Raya's membership rules.
More specifically, how to get around them - with subreddits exclusively dedicated to buying referrals and tips to make your application stand out. Considering the lore surrounding Raya, the platform's application form is surprisingly straightforward. Once you've indicated your interest in joining the app, you are required to fill in a few basic details such as your date of birth, current location, occupation, and the company you work for - as well as your Instagram handle.
