You’ve seen it. Even if you don’t follow the Barbz or keep up with every single beef on X, you’ve definitely scrolled past someone—maybe a fitness influencer, maybe a random dad, maybe even Ciara—crouching precariously on top of a water bottle or a stack of dumbbells. It’s the Nicki Minaj pose. Specifically, it's that gravity-defying, calf-cramping squat from the 2013 "High School" music video.
Honestly, it’s wild how the internet works. A clip from over a decade ago resurfaces, and suddenly, half the world is trying to prove they have the core strength of a Roman gladiator while wearing six-inch stilettos. But there’s a lot more to this than just a viral TikTok challenge. It’s a moment of cultural reclamation, a testament to Nicki’s "brag-a-docious" energy, and frankly, a medical miracle that no one has snapped an ankle yet.
Where Did This Actually Come From?
Let’s get the facts straight. The "Nicki Minaj pose" isn't just one thing, but the current obsession traces back to exactly 30 seconds into the "High School" music video (featuring Lil Wayne).
In the scene, Nicki is poolside. She’s rocking a bubblegum pink bikini and a long blonde wig. But the kicker? She’s wearing sky-high beige stilettos and decides to drop into a deep, crossed-leg squat while staring directly into the lens. It’s pure confidence.
Fast forward to mid-2025. The clip resurfaced on TikTok, and users started the #NickiMinajChallenge. The goal? Recreate the pose. But because the internet is a place of escalation, just doing it on flat ground wasn't enough. People started doing it on:
- Inverted dumbbells.
- Soda cans (yes, seriously).
- Cooking pots.
- Kitchen counters.
Psychologists, like Columbia-trained Bea Arthur, have actually weighed in on this. According to Arthur, the trend caught fire because it represents "feminine prowess and seemingly superhuman strength." In an era of "quiet luxury" and "demure" trends, the Nicki Minaj pose is the opposite. It’s loud. It’s difficult. It’s a flex.
The Pink Friday Anatomy of a Pose
Before the "High School" squat took over your FYP, Nicki was already the queen of the "doll pose." If we look back at the original Pink Friday album cover from 2010, that was the first time the world saw the Nicki Minaj pose as a brand.
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On that cover, she’s sitting on the ground, armless (like a doll in a box), with her legs elongated to an impossible degree. It was surrealism meets hip-hop.
- The Stare: It’s always a dead-on, unblinking look at the camera.
- The Angles: Whether it’s the squat or the "Chun-Li" stance, she uses her limbs to create sharp, geometric shapes.
- The Balance: Most of her iconic poses require a level of physical fitness that people underestimate.
When Nicki released the cover for Pink Friday 2 in late 2023, she shifted the vibe. She was on a mystical train, fully covered in Vetements. She told Vogue that she loved the discussion it sparked: "Is she going there or is she coming from there?"
The "pose" evolved from being a literal doll to being a high-fashion enigma. But the fans? They always go back to the classics. They want the "bad bitch" energy of the 2013 poolside crouch.
Why the Internet Can't Stop (Even in 2026)
We are well into 2026, and the "Nicki Minaj pose" is still popping up in Google Discover. Why? Because it’s a "skill" check.
Unlike the 2010s "planking" fad, which literally anyone with a spine could do, the Nicki pose is hard. It requires a specific center of gravity. If you’ve got weak knees, you’re not doing it. If you don’t have balance, you’re falling over.
There’s also the "feud" factor. In July 2025, Nicki posted a screenshot of her doing the pose while calling out other artists. It became a meme for "I’m unbothered and better than you." When a celebrity uses their own history as a weapon in a rap beef, the internet is going to archive it.
How to Do the Pose Without Ending Up in the ER
If you’re going to try the Nicki Minaj pose, please, for the love of everything, don't start on a beer can.
- Warm up your ankles. No, really.
- Find your center. The "High School" pose works because one leg is tucked over the other, creating a tripod effect with your feet.
- The heels matter. Platform heels actually make this easier because they provide a wider base. Thin stilettos are expert mode.
- The Lean. Notice in the video that Nicki isn't just sitting; she’s leaning slightly forward to keep the weight off her heels and on the balls of her feet.
It’s sorta funny how a random second in a music video from 13 years ago can define a whole summer of content in 2025 and 2026. But that’s the power of Onika Tanya Maraj. She doesn’t just make songs; she makes silhouettes.
Whether it’s the Pink Friday doll pose or the "High School" squat, the Nicki Minaj pose isn't going anywhere. It’s basically the "S" we all used to draw in middle school, but for people who like rap and have great quads.
Next time you see someone at the gym balancing on a kettlebell in heels, don't be confused. They're just trying to find their inner Barb.
Actionable Insight: If you're a content creator looking to jump on this, focus on the "fail" videos or the "progress" videos. The internet loves seeing the struggle behind the perfection. If you're just a fan, maybe stick to the Pink Friday seated pose—it’s much kinder to your ACLs.