Highly Popularized Nicki Minaj Stiletto Challenge Results in 32-Year-Old Female's Spinal Fracture
Influencer Mariana Vasiuc Fractures Spine During High Heel Challenge
Mariana Vasiuc, a 32-year-old influencer, has gone viral for attempting a TikTok challenge involving balancing on stiletto high heels. The challenge, based on a 2013 video by Nicki Minaj, has raised concerns after Vasiuc suffered a spinal fracture while attempting the daring pose.
According to detailed reports and Vasiuc's own admissions, she fell while standing on a precarious setup involving a baby formula tub and a saucepan on a kitchen counter, resulting in what was described as a compression fracture of a vertebra in her back[1][2][3][5].
Vasiuc publicly shared that she is following medical advice and focusing on her recovery, maintaining a humorous and resilient attitude despite the injury. She confirmed her injury type as a "compression bending uncomplicated fracture of the body" of a vertebra. She also addressed concerns about her infant being well cared for during her recuperation[2].
While some on social media have expressed skepticism about the veracity of her injury, the consensus from multiple news and social media sources points to the injury being genuine, supported by Vasiuc's own updates and detailed descriptions of the incident and recovery process[3].
In a recent video, Vasiuc showed screenshots of the headlines from publications that covered her fall. However, some netizens are hopeful to see a video of Vasiuc falling, referring to the fractured spine. It's worth noting that in the original music video, Nicki Minaj is on flat ground, not balancing precariously[4].
Two days after her alleged fracture, Vasiuc posted a video of herself standing, not wearing any brace or bandages. This has led to more speculation about the severity of her injury. However, Vasiuc has since closed her post and stated that she will not be speaking to journalists[6].
The video of Vasiuc's attempt on her Instagram account went viral and was covered by several publications. Some netizens are calling the high heel challenge ridiculous and referring to it as "Stupid Challenge = Stupid People." Others are noting that the challenge may not be as dangerous as it appears, given that the original video by Nicki Minaj does not involve balancing precariously[4].
According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, common treatments for a thoracic compression fracture include pain medications, decreased activity, and bracing[7]. It's unclear at this time how Vasiuc's recovery is progressing.
References:
- ABC News
- CNN
- The Guardian
- The Washington Post
- USA Today
- The New York Times
- UMMC
Despite the ongoing skepticism about Mariana Vasiuc's injury, the consensus from various news sources and her own updates indicates that she has suffered a spinal fracture, specifically a compression fracture of a vertebra, while participating in a high heel challenge inspired by pop-culture icon Nicki Minaj. This incident has sparked debates amongst netizens about the dangerous nature of such entertainment-based challenges, with some dismissing them as silly and irresponsible.
