A viral social media stunt turned serious when a mother's attempt at Nicki Minaj's popular 'Stiletto Challenge' led to a spinal injury. Mariana Barutkina, a 32-year-old influencer from Russia, sustained a compression fracture to her spine during the attempt.
Barutkina gained attention as a mother sharing her life online, often posting about her family and personal experiences. On 1 August 2025, she posted a video on Instagram showing her attempting the TikTok trend known as the Nicki Minaj stiletto challenge. Less than two months after giving birth, she decided to try the challenge, which involves balancing in high heels on precarious objects while mimicking a pose from Minaj's 2013 'High School' music video.
