Embarking on the trendy Nicki Minaj-inspired stiletto challenge, Russian influencer Mariana Barutkina found herself living a cautionary saga, resulting in a back fracture mere weeks post-partum. The viral challenge encourages participants to strike a pose to Minaj’s “High School” while balancing precariously in heels, a feat Mariana attempted with unforeseen consequences.
In an Instagram post dated August 1, accompanied by a video of her losing her balance and toppling off her kitchen counter, Mariana reflected, "I decided to start blogging, and here I am, exiting the doctor's office with a diagnosis of a Th9 compression bending uncomplicated fracture of the spine." With a touch of humor, she pondered, "Is this irony? Karma? Or simply life's penchant for testing our mettle at the most unexpected junctures?"
Mariana's daring act involved balancing on a precarious stack of a saucepan and a baby formula canister perched atop the kitchen counter. For a few nail-biting minutes, she managed to maintain her composure, only for the video to take a dramatic turn as she plummeted backward from the lofty counter.
Despite sustaining a minor fracture, Mariana admitted that the incident had been worth the fleeting brush with fame. "One ill-fated video turned me into an overnight sensation," she added in a subsequent post. "Today, over 50 people have sent me clips of my reel from various publications."
Assuring her followers that both she and her newborn were faring well despite the mishap, Mariana continued, "I'm thriving, adhering to medical advice, and now basking in a semblance of 'star' status." She reassured those concerned about her child, stating, "He's in good hands with his two nannies, and one of them was with him while I was filming."
Mariana's mishap is just one of several recent viral accidents. Earlier this summer, Savannah Bananas baseball player Robert Anthony Cruz achieved social media stardom after a failed backflip during a live CNN broadcast. As the clip circulated the internet, Robert graciously acknowledged the humor in the situation. "Hey guys, feel free to laugh," he posted on Instagram Stories on July 24. "I can't help but chuckle every time I watch it too. With the sound on, it's hilarious."
