Russian Mom Breaks Spine Attempting Nicki Minaj “Stiletto Challenge” Just 8 Weeks After Giving Birth

A Russian woman aged 32 suffered a serious spinal injury after attempting the social media craze “Stiletto Challenge” eight weeks following the birth of her baby, triggering a storm of outrage on social networking sites.

Yekaterinburg nail technician Mariana Barutkina was caught on video trying to stand on a jar of baby food balanced on an inverted saucepan, wearing skyscraper stiletto heels, in trying to replicate a pose from Nicki Minaj’s “High School” music video.

In the video, Barutkina ascends to her kitchen countertop in full makeup, taking on the now-famous contortion with one leg over the other. But within seconds, she misses a step and tumbles backward onto the tile floor.

The result? A compression flexion fracture of her spine. Doctors have since insisted that she wear a medical corset for three months.

The Lethal Rise of the “Stiletto Challenge”

The challenge, which was sparked by a shot in Minaj’s 2013 video near a pool where she bends low in stilettos with her legs crossed elegantly, has exploded on TikTok and Instagram in recent weeks. Volunteers, who are largely female, are attempting to recreate the position in increasingly more extreme locations, using household objects to try and replicate the perilous height Minaj appeared to achieve.

Unlike the first video, created on stable ground with the help of professionals, social media users have taken the challenge to risky lengths, stacking books, standing on weights, or in the case of Barutkina, standing on baby food cans and pots.

“I Wanted to Start a Blog… and Ended Up at the Doctor”

Barutkina said she was creating videos for her new blog about lifestyle and hadn’t expected things to go so wrong.

“I decided to start a blog, my first content shoot, and here I am leaving the doctor’s with a diagnosis,” she told local news reporters in interviews.

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

Although the injury took place, Barutkina has maintained her positivity ongoing, even calling herself a “star” following the video going viral.

“Because of one video, which was poorly filmed, I woke up as a popular person,” she wrote. “People, thank you for the popularity, for your concerns, and for your comments.”

Did Mariana Barutkina Receive Any Criticism on Social Media?

Not everyone was sorry for her.

Social media users have roasted the one-month-old mother for forcing her body too soon after birth, with some accusing her of wanting to go viral at the expense of her child’s health.

“I knew this was going to happen please stop no one cares if you can balance on weights,” one user posted.

“Man she got herself a real sports-level injury totally for free. if she was an athlete she’d get paid to stay home and heal,” another said.

One of the trending tweets reads: “Nicki did NOT encourage self-injury, she didn’t encourage any of this in fact. Hold my hand when I say this… whew YALL DUMB ASSES wanted to do shit in your OWN HANDS and now don’t HAVE NO ANKLES OR SPINAL CORDS ????????????.”

Another user interjected, “Good. Y’all was doing the challenge all wrong anyway. Let’s get that done shall we.”

Barutkina Fires Back At Critics

In the face of criticism, Barutkina fired back with a post directed to concerned viewers.

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 asserted.

The backlash is a reflection of increased anxiety about the safety of viral internet stunts and social pressure, especially from new parents who desire to be seen online. Despite her video making her an overnight sensation, doctors and experts still have to advise that fame must never come at the cost of health.

While Barutkina recuperates in her medical corset, the web remains deeply polarized, some mocking her, others admiring her resilience. But what can’t be denied: the “Stiletto Challenge” is now under the microscope for good.

Editor’s Note: Nicki Minaj has neither endorsed nor commented on the “Stiletto Challenge,” and the initial pose was shot under professional conditions.

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