In November 2025, the world of digital dating continues to present its complexities, prompting even the author, a recently single individual in her thirties, to consider a hiatus from platforms like Tinder, Bumble, and Lex until the spring. Despite these prevalent challenges, dating applications have indeed paved the way for successful connections. A notable example includes New York's mayor-elect, Zohran Mamdani, who met his accomplished artist wife, Rama Duwaji, on Hinge, offering a beacon of hope that meaningful relationships can still blossom online.
Mamdani and Duwaji are not isolated cases; numerous other well-known couples have discovered each other through these virtual avenues, transcending the typical profiles filled with generic interests. This segment celebrates the various celebrities who have openly shared their experiences of engaging with dating applications, revealing the broad spectrum of their romantic endeavors.
The esteemed Olympic gymnast, Simone Biles, and her NFL player husband, Jonathan Owens, connected on the exclusive dating app Raya in 2020. Owens candidly admitted in 2021 that he was unfamiliar with Biles's celebrity status at their initial meeting, a detail that Biles found endearing. Their story exemplifies an unexpected yet successful pairing facilitated by online dating.
Comedian and co-creator of Big Mouth, Nick Kroll, found his wife, artist and landscape designer Lily Kwong, on Raya in 2018. Kwong reportedly initiated contact, reaching out to Kroll first. Their subsequent marriage and two children underscore the positive outcomes that can arise from taking the initiative in online interactions.
Actress and talk show host Drew Barrymore offered a starkly different account of her Raya journey on Watch What Happens with Andy Cohen in 2020. She described her experience as "terrible," marked by being stood up and failing to match with anyone. Despite her friends' encouragement, she likened her time on the app to a "car wreck," highlighting that even celebrities can face rejection and disappointment in online dating.
Prior to her marriage to artist and songwriter Jordan “Jutes” Lutes, Demi Lovato also explored Raya to connect with both men and women during her single phase. Her willingness to use dating apps illustrates a broader trend among public figures who, like anyone else, seek companionship and romance through digital means before settling down.
Comedian and 2025 Golden Globes host, Nikki Glaser, has openly discussed encountering other celebrities, such as Andrew Garfield and Ben Affleck, on Raya. She even shared her experience regarding Affleck with his ex-partner, Gwyneth Paltrow. Glaser's anecdotes shed light on the often-overlapping social circles found within these exclusive dating platforms.