August 13, 2025, 2:57 pm | Read time: 3 minutes
For weeks, the so-called Nicki Minaj Challenge has been drawing a lot of attention on social media. Following the motto “higher, faster, further,” primarily female internet users are trying to outdo each other with increasingly spectacular videos. This often leads to injuries. Now, the questionable trend has reached dog owners.
Daring #nickiminajchallenge Leads to Many Injuries
For weeks, social media has been filled with spectacular videos that often leave viewers amazed. They feature women posing on one leg in high heels on more or less stable surfaces. These daring videos are all part of the viral #nickiminajchallenge.
Women worldwide, inspired by a video from rapper Nicki Minaj, are competing in extreme challenges. Specifically, they are recreating a scene from her 2014 “High School” music video, where she poses in high heels on one leg with crossed knees next to a swimming pool. This striking image has motivated many to attempt similar scenes. The challenge: stand on the most difficult surfaces possible, no matter the cost!
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Not only did the surfaces become more challenging with each video, but the heels also got higher. Women attempting the challenge are daring to balance on dumbbells, door handles, or even nail polish bottles. “This is just crazy!” commented one user on such a video. “I couldn’t even walk on a normal floor in those high heels without breaking my neck!”
It’s no surprise that this challenge leads to severe accidents. Recently, the media reported on a Russian influencer who slipped while trying to balance in stilettos on a can of baby formula, breaking her spine. The can was stacked on a pot on a kitchen island, making the fall height quite significant. The unstable stance due to the high heels in the Nicki Minaj pose added to the risk.1
Media outlets now quote various doctors in the U.S. who report that they have to treat patients weekly who have injured themselves attempting such challenges.
Owners Put Pets at Risk Due to #nickiminajchallenge
The obviously dangerous Nicki Minaj Challenge has now reached parts of the dog owner community. Recently, more videos have appeared showing dogs—fortunately not in high heels—balancing on various objects. These animals clearly exhibit physical signs of stress and discomfort.
PERBOOK editor and behavioral biologist Saskia Schneider has reviewed the videos. Many of the dogs tuck their tails and have dilated pupils, clear signs of stress and fear. “It’s clear that none of these dogs assumed these positions voluntarily—such as through targeted training, like in film or circus animal performances.” This is not only a breach of trust by the owners, Schneider says. If the animal gets injured during the challenge, it can lead to trauma—not just physically, but also psychologically.
Clearly, this challenge poses a significant risk of injury to animals as well. Owners are recklessly exposing their pets to danger for a bit of online attention—and for something the animals can’t even choose themselves. This situation should be considered relevant to animal welfare. “The dog doesn’t even have to be seriously hurt—the fall alone can cause panic,” Schneider emphasizes. In the worst case, this could lead to aggression against the owner or other pets.