Would You Dare Try the Nicki Minaj Stiletto Challenge?

If you’ve been scrolling TikTok lately, there’s a good chance you’ve stumbled upon the viral Nicki Minaj Stiletto Challenge — a flashy, gravity-defying pose that’s taking over timelines and inspiring some seriously risky reenactments. But what exactly is it, and why are we suddenly seeing it everywhere over a decade after its origin?

Screenshot of video below showing the original pose, in the 2013 music video for the song “High School.”

The Pose That Sparked It All

As seen in the shot above, Nicki poses poolside, squatting with legs crossed, while wearing sky-high stiletto heels. It shows up 32 seconds in the video and lasts only a second or two.

But while Nicki has both feet firmly planted on the ground, the TikTok challenge shows people balancing on all kinds of random items with only one foot on the ground.

Why the Sudden Comeback?

More than ten years later, TikTok has breathed new life into the moment. Fans rediscovered the scene and quickly turned it into a challenge — as TikTok does.

The video’s comment section on YouTube is now filled with people talking about the pose and sharing their own attempts at recreating it.

TikTok Takes the Nicki Minaj Stiletto Challenge to the Extreme

Of course, as trends evolve, so do the levels of difficulty. While Nicki had both feet on the ground, TikTokers have decided that simply striking the original pose isn’t enough.

Now, you’ll find versions of the challenge featuring people balancing on dumbbells, bar stools, beer cans, and even a Jenga set.

The only reason I’m aware of this trend is because it ended up on the front page of my Yahoo News, when a Russian influencer tried it while balancing on a saucepan and a can of baby formula stacked on top of a kitchen counter.

She then fell backwards off the countertop, fracturing her spine in the process.

The funny part is, in the article she says she “wanted to start a blog” and injured her spine in the process.

Somebody should probably let her know blogging has nothing to do with balancing on a countertop in heels!

The Internet’s Power to Resurrect

This Nicki Minaj Stiletto Challenge is just another example of how the internet has a way of unearthing cultural moments and turning them into something new — or completely unhinged.

A 10-second clip from a decade ago can suddenly become the next viral trend, reimagined through the lens of Gen Z creativity and daredevilry.

Because everyone knows, if it’s on the Internet, it lives on forever!

If you want to see people trying this trend, just search Nicki Minaj Challenge or Stiletto Challenge on social media and all the videos will pop up.