Fame makes dating strange. The person sitting across from you at dinner might have 40 million followers. They might have paparazzi parked outside their apartment. They might be worth more than the GDP of a small country. Finding someone who relates to that life is hard. Finding someone who wants you and not your status is harder.
So where do celebrities turn when they want to meet someone new? The answer splits in two directions. Some use exclusive apps designed for people like them. Others skip the middleman and send a direct message on social media, the same way a college student might shoot their shot with a crush. Both methods work. The choice often comes down to preference, circumstance, and timing.
The Gatekeepers of Celebrity Romance
Raya operates as the most recognized name in exclusive dating apps. Daniel Gendelman founded it in 2015, and since then it has built a reputation as the place where famous people go to find other famous people. The app runs on iOS only and requires an application process. Acceptance rates hover around 8%, and the current waitlist sits at roughly 2.5 million people.
The membership breakdown shows approximately 55% male and 45% female users, which creates a more balanced ratio than most mainstream dating apps. Getting accepted requires more than money or ambition. The vetting process considers social media following, industry connections, creative work, and referrals from existing members.
How They Actually Find Each Other
Celebrities looking for romance have options beyond their immediate circles. They might use different types of platforms such as sugar daddy websites or elite dating apps, though the most common route appears to be a mix of curated services and direct social media outreach. Raya maintains an 8% acceptance rate and a waitlist of 2.5 million people, reinforcing its reputation as a controlled space.
Simone Biles met NFL player Jonathan Owens on Raya while training for the Tokyo Olympics, though she later told The Wall Street Journal that he claims she slid into his DMs. The example highlights how blurred the line between apps and direct messaging has become.
The DM approach works too. Joe Jonas messaged Sophie Turner on Instagram after mutual friends failed to connect them for years, according to Harper’s Bazaar UK. Mandy Moore met her husband Taylor Goldsmith after posting his band’s album cover on Instagram, and he reached out directly. The pattern is clear: famous people use the same tools as everyone else, just with smaller pools and higher stakes.
Why Apps Still Matter
The appeal of a platform like Raya goes beyond matching algorithms. Privacy becomes the primary concern for anyone whose romantic choices can end up on gossip sites within hours. Exclusive apps offer a controlled environment where members can assume the person on the other end has been vetted. No catfishing. No random fans pretending to be someone they are not.
Athletes, musicians, actors, and tech executives populate these spaces. The barrier to entry creates a layer of trust that open platforms cannot provide. For many celebrities, that structure makes starting a conversation feel safer and more intentional.
The DM Route Has Its Own Logic
Some celebrities bypass apps entirely. Social media provides a direct line to anyone with a public profile. Sending a message requires confidence and timing, but it removes filters and intermediaries.
Mandy Moore’s story illustrates this clearly. She admired someone’s work, expressed it publicly, and opened the door to a private conversation. That approach mirrors how many non-famous people form connections online, just with far more visibility attached.
The Question of Intent
Both methods serve different purposes. Apps provide structure, screening, and a degree of anonymity before conversations begin. DMs require more initiative and carry more risk. Receiving a message from a stranger, even a famous one, still involves deciding whether the intent is genuine.
Some celebrities prefer the formality of an app. Others trust instinct and timing. Neither approach guarantees success. Both have produced lasting relationships and brief encounters.
What This Tells Us
Famous people date the same way everyone else does. They swipe through profiles. They send risky messages. They wait to see if someone responds. The platforms might be more exclusive and the consequences more public, but the mechanics remain familiar.
Raya exists because celebrities need controlled spaces. DMs exist because sometimes interest overrides structure. Most celebrities move between both, choosing whatever feels appropriate in the moment.
Conclusion
Celebrities do not rely on a single method to form romantic connections. They use elite dating apps when privacy and screening matter, and they slide into DMs when timing and instinct take over. The difference is not in behavior but in context. Fame raises the stakes, not the strategy. At its core, celebrity dating reflects the same mix of caution, curiosity, and risk that shapes how anyone looks for connection in the modern world.