A Russian social media influencer suffered a serious spinal injury while attempting a viral dance challenge inspired by rapper Nicki Minaj’s music, highlighting the dangerous lengths content creators go to for online fame.
Dangerous Stunt Goes Wrong
Mariana Barutkina, a Russian influencer and new mother, fractured her spine while participating in the “Nicki Minaj Stiletto Challenge” just weeks after giving birth. The viral trend involves participants attempting to balance in high heels while posing to Minaj’s song “High School.”
In an Instagram post dated August 1, Barutkina documented her failed attempt, which resulted in a Th9 compression fracture. The video shows her precariously balancing on stacked kitchen items—a saucepan and baby formula canister—placed on her kitchen counter while wearing stiletto heels.
The Fall That Changed Everything
Despite maintaining her balance initially, Barutkina eventually fell backward from the elevated surface, landing hard and sustaining the spinal injury. The incident occurred in her kitchen as she filmed content for her growing social media presence.
“I decided to start blogging, and here I am leaving the doctor diagnosed with Th9 compression bending uncomplicated fracture of the body,” Barutkina wrote in her post, adding philosophical commentary about the irony of the situation.
Viral Fame Despite Injury
Rather than expressing regret, Barutkina embraced her newfound internet notoriety. She reported receiving over 50 messages from people who had seen her video shared across various publications and platforms.
“Because of one video, which was unsuccessfully filmed, I woke up a popular person,” she stated in a follow-up post, describing her current “star” status despite the medical consequences.
Recovery and Childcare Concerns
The influencer assured followers that both she and her newborn child are managing well following the accident. Barutkina confirmed she is following medical guidelines for her recovery while maintaining her social media presence.
“Whoever worries about my child is also calm, he has two nannies and while I was filming one of them was with him,” she explained, addressing concerns about childcare during her recovery period.
Part of Dangerous Social Media Trend
Barutkina’s injury represents the latest in a series of social media-related accidents that have gained viral attention. The incident underscores growing concerns about the risks content creators take to achieve online popularity and engagement.
The Nicki Minaj Stiletto Challenge joins numerous other viral trends that have resulted in injuries, raising questions about platform responsibility and the pressure influencers face to create increasingly dramatic content.
Twitter Summary: Russian influencer breaks spine attempting viral Nicki Minaj stiletto challenge weeks after giving birth, calls newfound fame worth the injury despite requiring medical treatment and recovery.
