"Raya is a members-only dating app. Daters must submit an application to get behind the app's golden gates, which includes linking your Instagram profile. Getting a recommendation from a current Raya member can be helpful. I had all of that: the public Instagram, the referral from a friend, and a willingness to pay Raya's $24.99 monthly fee (or $49.99 for premium features). It still took me months to get accepted."
"At one point, I saw a solidly C-list actor. I gushed to a friend. Their response: "Oh, was he in 'American Horror Story?'" (He wasn't.) I see TikToks all the time of women listing the A-list men they've swiped through on Raya. Maybe, I wondered, it's because I'm gay. But there weren't even many celebs in the big gay niches, from what I could see; I only spotted two Broadway actors."
I waited months to gain access to Raya despite having a public Instagram, a friend referral, and willingness to pay $24.99 per month or $49.99 for premium. Raya requires an application and linking Instagram, and recommendations from current members can help. Acceptance felt elusive and heightened anticipation. After acceptance, I encountered few celebrities and instead found many influencers, interior designers, and creative directors. I saw a C-list actor once and two Broadway actors in gay niches, but not the A-list presence I expected. The app's main feed uses a Tinder-like left-right swipe interface.
Read at Business Insider
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