I joined a celebrity dating app – my first connections were a TV star I’d already snogged and a genuine A-lister

 IT'S NOT unusual to join dating apps if you're single.

But the unspoken rules of them can be hard to navigate, especially if your a newbie and eager to impress.

When Stacey Duguid found herself on the invitation only dating app Raya, which is populated by celebs and the ultra rich, she wasn't sure who she'd match with.

Writing in , she admitted that her verified Instagram status might've helped secure her place on the elusive app where she came across the upper echelon of the single world.

She said: "The first person to pop up on my Raya feed was a well-known TV celebrity who I'd snogged in the early 2000s."

After that she came across an A-list actor and even an ex-boyfriend, but couldn't find anyone that would be an realistically good fit.

She explained: "In the months that followed, I persevered, but garnered zero interest from anyone at all.

"As in, not one single person, which made me wonder if I was doing it right and also whether I'm just too old."

But it turned out men in their late 40s were bagging leggy models twenty years their junior on the app.

Although she felt a bit hopeless, Stacey decided to give the app another chance after a female friend who was the same age and level of attractiveness admitted that they met their boyfriend on the app.

Stacey's hopes were dashed when she got carried away with hitting the heart button, and was informed that she'd have to cough up a one-off fee to continue using Raya.

She paid the fee, but discovered that not one person messaged her, making her question if the whole thing was worth while.

Then, when chatting about her dating excursions, or lack there of, with her friends is became apparent she wasn't alone in her frustrations.

Even her youngest, prettiest friends struggled to make any real connections on the up market app.

Giving it one last shot with her friends in tow, she group swiped through the app's offerings, until Stacey matched with one especially good looking suitor.

Bursting with excitement, the dating hopeful immediately messaged her match, typing "hello" in a bid to start the romance.

Stacey's friends couldn't believe she not only messaged first, but did it so quickly.

"Unbeknown to me, there's a 10-day period on Raya to get in touch with who you've connected with, and women (I am reliably told) never, ever make the first move. Never."

Everything made sense, no wonder she wasn't getting anywhere on the app, she thought, joking that at 48, she might now start lying about her age instead.