If you use dating apps to look for love, chances are you’ve heard of Raya. However, the likelihood that you’ve managed to gain access to it are pretty slim to none. If you’re curious what all the fuss is about and desperate to check out the big names using it, here’s how to get on Raya (or at least increase your chances).
What is Raya?
Launched back in 2015, Raya is an exclusive, members-only dating app used by celebs, influencers, and other high-powered singles looking for love. While it’s since added networking and social aspects to the app, Raya remains at its core a way for those with high profiles to hook up.
If you want in, you’ll have to fill in an extensive application. Per Raya itself, “Prospective members may download the app and submit an application. Once submitted, applications are placed in a queue and reviewed continually. An applicant’s status can change from ‘waitlisted’ to ‘accepted’ at any time.”
However, you probably shouldn’t expect approval — if you’re lucky enough to be approved, that is — to be very quick. Many people say they waited months without hearing a word and eventually gave up. Others claim they did get in eventually, but it took years. In other words, it doesn’t seem to be a very quick process.
Why is it so tough to get approved?
While Raya doesn’t say it’s exclusive to celebs and public figures, figuring out how to get on as a regular person is tough. The waiting list currently stands at around 100,000 people, according to reports, meaning your chances of getting in as a layman are pretty slim. Given that the likes of Channing Tatum, Olivia Rodrigo, Emily Ratajkowski, and John Mayer are just a few of the big names on board, it’s easy to see why.
It’s unclear exactly how the powers that be at Raya decide which applications to approve, but your chances are pretty slim. That’s because the app has about an 8% acceptance rate, according to The New York Times. That’s less than Harvard Business School, just for reference.
One of the largest considerations, however, may come down to a user’s likely ability to be discrete. Raya is, in many ways, a dating “fight club.” Not only are you not allowed to talk about your matches on Raya — doing so could get you kicked off, as “Vanderpump Rules” star Stassi Schroeder found out the hard way — and screenshotting is also a no-no. In other words, if you’re someone who wants to peep on celebs’ profiles for clout on social media, you’re not a good fit. The site also claims that they’re looking for people who would offer “interesting, lively and respectful conversation” at a private dinner party and whether everyone else at the party would understand why you’re there.
What is the Raya application process like?
The application process for Raya begins with the basics. You’ll share your name, your Instagram handle, and the industry you work in. However, things get a bit more intense from there. One of the most important elements, and one that may have the biggest impact on your chances of being approved, is having a solid referral. The application asks those interested in joining to “select one or more Raya members who can privately support your application.” Don’t know anyone who’s been approved? Looks like you may be out of luck.
Many people claim that you can have several referrals but that if you’re not well-known on Instagram, your chances of being accepted are pretty slim. That’s all anecdotal, of course, but given that Raya is pretty exclusive, there may be some truth to that. That being said, the committee that decides on applications consists of about 500 people from all different backgrounds who don’t know each other, so each of them may be looking for something different.
How to get on Raya (or at least increase your chances)
While there’s no guaranteed formula for success, there are a couple of things you might try if you want to get approved on Raya.
- Build your social media following. Love it or hate it, social media is currency in today’s world. If you want to get on Raya, you’ll not only have to use it, you’ll have to be great at it. Having a large following on Instagram, TikTok, or Twitter will go a long way in proving your worth as a candidate. The more fans you have online, the more likely you’ll be to seem like a good fit for the app. Raya wants to fill the app with people of the same social standing. If you’re a nobody in their eyes, chances are you don’t belong there.
- Have an interesting/creative career. In addition to being a hit online, you may stand out to committee members if you have an awesome career. Something unconventional but intriguing will make you seem much more interesting to the powers that be as well as other users. Don’t be afraid to share the weird, wonderful things you do for work. It could just work to your advantage.
- Avoid bragging or being too flashy. Yes, there are loads of rich people on Raya. However, bragging or flashing the cash is just tacky. Avoid the urge to show off your Louis Vuitton bags and Rolex watches. Try to keep the Boomerangs of your diamond rings to a minimum. You want to be classy as well as upper-crust, so don’t screw yourself over in this department.
- Be your charming, amazing self. At the end of the day, Raya isn’t the be-all, end-all of dating apps. You might not even find anyone on there you like. Whether or not you get invited to join means nothing. You’re still smart, funny, caring, beautiful, and a total catch. Sure, Channing Tatum may not get a chance to see that. Somehow, you’ll survive. Don’t stress it too much.
