Thursday, August 7, 2025 - Russian influencer Mariana Barutkina has suffered a serious spinal injury after attempting the viral “Stiletto Challenge,” a dangerous online trend inspired by rapper Nicki Minaj’s pose in the 2013 “High School” music video.
Barutkina, 32, from Yekaterinburg, was filming content for
her new blog on August 1 when the incident occurred. In a video posted to
Instagram, she attempted to balance on a tub of baby food placed atop a
saucepan while wearing stiletto heels, just eight weeks after giving
birth. Seconds into the video, her right foot slipped, and she fell backwards
off the kitchen counter. The clip cut off as she hit the floor.
She was rushed to hospital and diagnosed with a compression
flexion fracture of the Th9 vertebra, a potentially severe spinal injury.
Compression fractures, according to the Cleveland Clinic, can lead to long-term
complications, including spine curvature or collapse, especially if left
untreated.
Following the incident, Barutkina addressed her followers in
a post translated by The Sun, saying, “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.”
Despite her injury, Barutkina expressed gratitude for the
outpouring of attention, writing, “Because of one video, which was poorly
filmed, I woke up as a popular person. 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.’”
The influencer also responded to criticism over her decision
to participate in the risky trend while caring for a newborn. “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 said.
Barutkina’s video quickly went viral, drawing backlash and
reigniting conversations about the dangers of online stunts. Health
professionals have warned against participating in the challenge, which has
seen a rise in attempts by social media users mimicking Minaj’s signature
stiletto pose.
The stunt gained renewed popularity after Minaj herself
reposted a clip on August 5, joking about the difficulty of the pose and
promising fans a safer version in a new outfit.
Barutkina has since stated that she will not be granting
interviews or engaging with the media, but continues to update her followers on
her recovery through social media.
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