Russian Influencer Fractures Spine Attempting Viral Nicki Minaj Stiletto Challenge

The Nicki Minaj stiletto challenge is a viral social media trend inspired by a pose from Minaj's 2013 music video "High School," where participants balance in high heels on precarious objects. Russian influencer Mariana Barutkina attempted the challenge just weeks after giving birth by balancing on a tub of baby formula stacked on a saucepan atop a kitchen counter but fell and sustained a compression fracture in her spine. Despite the injury, Barutkina embraced the attention from the incident, sharing updates that she and her baby were doing well. Another young woman also attempted the challenge using a can of paint and a brick outdoors but failed to balance, drawing millions of views and amusement online. The challenge has prompted influencers to attempt increasingly risky stunts, often on unstable surfaces, which has raised concerns due to the potential for serious injuries. Nicki Minaj herself later joined the trend, posting her own version of the pose on Instagram, further fueling its popularity.