Balancing for Clout: What the Nicki Minaj Pose Challenge Reveals About Us

One woman broke her spine trying the Nicki Minaj Pose Challenge.

Hundreds of others nearly did the same.

Millions of people watched, laughed, liked, and scrolled on to the next thing.

The Nicki Minaj Pose Challenge, also called the Stiletto Pose Challenge, is the latest in a long list of online dares that push people to risk their safety for a few seconds of attention. While it’s easy to think, “That’s ridiculous, I’d never do that,” the same social forces that pushed her to try it are tugging at all of us.

Why the Nicki Minaj Pose Challenge Grabs Attention

“In the social media economy, attention is currency and we’re all aware of our balance.”

In today’s social media economy, attention is currency. We all know our balance, and it can feel like you either earn more or fade into the background.

As a therapist, here’s what I see:

• Attention as currency — In the social media economy, attention is the gold standard. It can feel like you either perform for it or fade into irrelevance.

• Constant comparison — The moment we see someone do it, the brain shifts into, “Could I pull that off? Could I do it better?” Even if you’re not consciously competing, you’re still in the arena.

• Virality mistaken for value — When likes spike, our nervous system registers it like a reward. You get the same dopamine hit as when you win a game or hear someone say, “I’m proud of you.”

The Hidden Costs of the Nicki Minaj Pose Challenge

“The danger isn’t just the fall. It’s the way your self worth becomes a public scoreboard.”

The physical risks are obvious, but the emotional ones are quieter and often last longer:

• Self worth gets outsourced — We outsource our self worth, tying our value to performance and perception.

• The baseline keeps moving — What wowed your audience last time might not be enough next time. You need a bigger stunt, a higher heel, a shakier surface.

• You start to lose the “why” — You start to lose the “why” when the pressure to outdo yourself replaces the joy of creating or connecting.

What’s Underneath the Need to Go Viral

“The desire to go viral is rarely about the trend, it’s about wanting to be seen, to matter, to belong.”

I’ve worked with many high-achieving clients who never post dangerous stunts, yet still feel pressure to “stay relevant.” Whether it’s in a boardroom, a social circle, or on a feed, the need is the same:

• We want to be seen.
• To matter.
• To feel like you’re keeping pace in a world that moves at the speed of a swipe.

When people don’t meet those needs in healthier ways, they often turn to challenges like the Nicki Minaj Pose Challenge. We chase the illusion of control, believing that if we nail this pose, we can control how others see us. But as I shared in my story about false control, control can be an uncomfortable place to sit when it is built on the wrong foundation.

Questions to Ask Before Joining the Next Viral Trend

“If no one saw it, would you still want to do it? That’s the real test.”

Before you say yes to the next viral thing, ask:

• Would this be worth the risk to my body or my peace of mind?

• Am I doing this for me, or for what I think it will get me?

• If no one saw this, would I still want to do it?

Sometimes the bravest, most relevant thing you can do… is step out of the competition entirely.

If this hit home for you, share it with a friend who’s feeling the pressure to “keep up” online.

And if you’re ready to unpack how comparison, perfectionism, or burnout are showing up in your own life, learn more about my therapy for high-achieving professionals.

Because you deserve more than a moment of relevance. You deserve lasting peace.