Influencer Fractures Spine Attempting Viral Nicki Minaj Pose Challenge

Even Nicki Minaj had something to say about her iconic pose from over a decade ago

An influencer has ended up with a serious injury after trying out a viral challenge inspired by none other than Nicki Minaj.

The challenge, dubbed the “stiletto challenge,” has been making waves on social media. It’s based on a pose Minaj pulls off in the music video for her 2013 track “High School.”

In that video, Minaj is seen next to a pool wearing sparkly sky-high stilettos and striking an unforgettable pose.

She then manages to squat down in those heels, crosses one leg over the other, and holds perfectly still while both feet remain on the ground. It’s pretty impressive.

But TikTok creators didn’t stop there. They decided to up the ante by attempting the pose on all kinds of unstable surfaces balancing on counters, tables, or whatever strange object they could find at home.

As you might imagine, one influencer’s attempt didn’t end well. She’s now recovering from a painful injury and a trip to the ER.

The influencer tried to balance on a jar of baby foodInstagram/@mariana_vasiuc

Marina Barutkina from Russia decided to take the challenge to a new level. She balanced one foot on top of a baby formula jar that was resting on a cooking pan, both placed on a kitchen counter, while holding a large can of food in one hand and wearing stilettos.

Within seconds, the 32-year-old lost her balance and came crashing down from the counter to the floor.

The video, which was posted on August 1, quickly went viral. While Marina says she’s embracing her unexpected “star status,” she also revealed that the fall caused a compression flexion fracture to her spine.

Marina, who had given birth just eight weeks before the accident, wrote in a translated Instagram caption: “I decided to start a blog, my first content shoot — and here I am leaving the doctor’s with a diagnosis.”

“Irony? Karma? Or just life, which always tests our strength at the most unexpected moment.”

She mentioned she would continue posting content about her life, motherhood, and staying motivated even after suffering the injury.

But the post stirred up some harsh criticism. Many commenters slammed her for risking her health with the challenge instead of focusing on her newborn.

She has confirmed she’s since suffered an injury to her backInstagram/@mariana_vasiuc

“Because of one video, which was poorly filmed, I woke up as a popular person.” she added in a follow-up message. “People, thank you for the popularity, for your concerns and for your comments. I am doing great, I am following the recommendations and now I live in the status of a ‘star.'”

“For those who are worried about my child, I will also reassure you, he has two nannies and while I was filming, one of them was with him,” she wrote in response to critics.

It seems the viral video might’ve even caught Nicki Minaj’s attention. A few days later, the rapper posted her own clip referencing “that pose” to her Instagram account.

Nicki Minaj has proved she can still do ‘that pose’Instagram/@nickiminaj

Still nailing the move after more than a decade, Minaj wore her own pair of extreme heels and showed off the signature pose several times with ease.

But she also included some lighthearted outtakes, hinting to her fans lovingly known as the Barbz — that it wasn’t a flawless one-take situation.

In her caption, she explained: “Dear Barbz, about that pose…. Ummm this Chanel dress was just a tad shorter than I thought & the thongs definitely didn’t help. Didn’t want to make it explicit.”

Minaj also used the moment to remind fans that the challenge wasn’t about standing on one leg or doing something overly risky.

“Both feet on the ground tho. Ten toes.” she added. “Ima put on a diff outfit that won’t show so much skin & do it again for you guys later. Love.”

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