Nicki Minaj pose challenge goes viral on TikTok with high heels and dangerous balancing acts

TikTok has revived another pop culture moment—this time, it's Nicki Minaj's unforgettable 2013 pose from her High School music video. Users are recreating the pose with a twist: balancing on increasingly bizarre and risky surfaces while wearing high heels, often in precarious places like kitchen counters, garden pots, or even atop champagne bottles.

The original pose, featuring Minaj seated poolside with legs crossed and grounded in high heels, resurfaced on the platform a few weeks ago. A clip of the music video went viral, inspiring a wave of recreations. But fans have since escalated the trend. From balancing on saucepan lids to three-tier dumbbell stacks, the challenge now tests balance, poise, and bravery.

Some videos show users effortlessly holding the pose, while others reveal the reality: lengthy setup times, behind-the-scenes struggles, and near-misses. One standout video features a user climbing atop a narrow porch railing, while another balances on stacked home decor. Tutorials and bloopers are now flooding TikTok, as creators share how they get into—and more importantly, down from—the pose.

The trend has sparked a mix of admiration and concern. One viral compilation playfully warned, “You all scare me with these Nicki Minaj poses,” reflecting viewers’ awe at the challenge’s difficulty and potential risks. As the videos evolve, fans eagerly wait for Minaj herself to join in. She’s already reposting favorites, suggesting she’s watching closely.

While the Nicki pose is having its moment, many wonder what’s next—will the Mannequin Challenge or planking make a comeback? Until then, TikTok continues proving no trend is too niche or too nostalgic to go viral again.