The internet has a funny way of making the impossible look like a casual Tuesday. You're scrolling through TikTok or Instagram, and suddenly you see someone balanced on a single champagne bottle, wearing six-inch heels, looking like they've bypassed the laws of physics entirely.
That's the Nicki Minaj stiletto challenge.
It’s been everywhere. Honestly, if you haven't seen it, your algorithm might be broken. It’s also called the "High School" pose challenge, and it basically turned the summer of 2025 into a giant, high-stakes game of "don't fall and break your neck."
Where did this even come from?
Most viral trends feel like they were born in a lab yesterday, but this one is a serious throwback. The core of the challenge comes from a music video that is over a decade old.
In the 2013 video for "High School" featuring Lil Wayne, there’s a specific shot of Nicki poolside. She’s wearing massive heels, crouching down, and crossing one leg over the other. She looks effortless. Calm. Like she could sit there for hours.
Then, around April 2025, a TikTok user named @1jacore posted a video trying to figure out how she even did it.
That was the spark.
People started trying to mimic the pose. But because the internet doesn't know when to stop, it didn't stay a simple "crouch by the pool" moment for long. It turned into a competition of who could balance on the smallest, weirdest, and most dangerous objects imaginable.
The anatomy of a viral stunt
What started as a tribute to a rap icon's flexibility quickly morphed into "extreme balancing."
💡 You might also like: Jared Leto Cult Beliefs: What Most People Get Wrong
We’re talking about people posing on:
- Dumbbells and kettlebells.
- Pots and pans (sometimes on the stove, which... please don't).
- Beer cans and soda bottles.
- Traffic cones.
- Even literal champagne bottles.
The "Barbz"—Nicki’s dedicated fanbase—were the first to jump on it, but it went way past them. Celebs like Ciara and Monica got in on the action. It became a cultural touchstone because it’s visually "satisfying."
There is something about the contrast of a sharp stiletto heel and a tiny surface area that makes your brain stop and look.
When "fap challenge" searches get it wrong
There is a huge misconception floating around the search bars lately. Some people are looking for the "Nicki Minaj fap challenge," but here's the thing: that isn't a real challenge.
In the world of internet slang, "fap" has a specific, adult connotation that has nothing to do with what was actually happening on social media. What people are actually looking for—or what they are finding instead—is the Nicki Minaj stiletto challenge.
It’s a classic case of search terms getting muddied. People see a "thirst trap" style video or a "body-focused" trend and the labels get weird.
Actually, it’s mostly about the shoes.
And the balance.
And the absolute chaos of trying not to fall over while your friend records you.
The Queen Mother weighs in
Eventually, the noise got so loud that Nicki herself had to step in. In August 2025, she posted her own version of the challenge to "school" everyone.
She didn't do the one-legged, on-a-soda-can version.
She actually encouraged people to be safer. Her caption was pretty direct: "Both feet on the ground tho. Ten toes."
She reminded everyone that in the original video, she had both feet firmly planted. She was using a sophisticated crouch, not a circus act. It was a rare moment where the creator of a trend had to come back and say, "Hey, y'all are doing too much."
Why it actually matters (and why it's dangerous)
You've probably heard the horror stories. There was a Russian influencer, Mariana Barutkina, who tried to do the pose on a can of baby formula placed inside a pot.
She fell.
She reportedly suffered a fractured spine.
That's the dark side of these challenges. When a trend moves from "cool pose" to "defying gravity," people get hurt. The physics of putting your entire body weight onto a thin heel, which is then placed on a moving or unstable object, is a recipe for disaster.
If you're thinking about trying this, maybe stick to the "Queen's Version"—keep both feet on the solid ground.
How to actually do the "High School" pose (safely)
If you really want to nail the look without a trip to the ER, here's how the pros (and Nicki) actually do it:
- Wear the right heels: Stilettos with a good ankle strap help with stability.
- The Footwork: Cross one leg over the other before you start the descent.
- The Crouch: Keep your back straight. Don't hunch.
- The "Ten Toes" Rule: Both feet should stay on the floor.
- The Camera Angle: A lower angle makes the pose look more dramatic without needing you to balance on a soup can.
The trend has mostly cooled off as we move into 2026, with fans now pivoting to anticipation for her rumored March 2026 album. But the "High School" pose remains a part of the digital archive—a reminder that sometimes, a ten-year-old music video can still break the internet if the lighting is right.
Next steps for you:
- Check out the original "High School" music video (around the 30-second mark) to see the real inspiration.
- If you’re attempting the pose for a photo, do it on a flat, non-slip surface.
- Avoid the "one-leg" variation unless you are a literal trained gymnast.