“Challenge Accepted and Closed”: Joburg Domestic Worker Nails the Viral Nicki Minaj Challenge
- A Johannesburg domestic worker took the viral Nicki Minaj challenge to new heights by balancing on various items
- She completed the dangerous pose while eating cake from a tray and balancing a laundry line on her head
- South Africans flooded her comments with praise and amazement, with many declaring the challenge officially closed
- Laiza Moyo has been selected as one of Briefly News' 2025 Women of Wonder: The Real Housekeepers of Mzansi for her work on changing perceptions about domestic work and empowering others
- Briefly News spoke to medical expert Jayshri Rangasamy regarding why people should discern whether viral challenges are dangerous first before just trying out anything
Source: Facebook
A Johannesburg domestic worker, Laiza Moyo, who has been selected as one of Briefly News' 2025 Women of Wonder: The Real Housekeepers of Mzansi, has left South Africa speechless after completing the viral Nicki Minaj challenge in the most creative and dangerous way possible.
Facebook content creator @laiza.mop.driver, known for sharing fun and inspirational videos, posted her version of the challenge that quickly went viral across social media.
The challenge comes from a 2013 Nicki Minaj music video called High School, where the rapper is seen squatting in high heels with one leg crossed over the other. People around the world have been recreating this pose on different objects, but most attempts look simple compared to what this domestic worker managed to pull off.
In her video, she stacked a wooden pillar on the ground, placed a three-legged pot on top of it, then balanced a brick on the pot. She then performed the Nicki Minaj pose while standing on the brick, holding a cake tray with a piece of cake that she was actually eating, and somehow managed to balance a laundry line on her head at the same time.
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Domestic worker nails the Nicki Minaj challenge
What makes this domestic worker's attempt so impressive is not just the height and complexity of her setup, but how calm and confident she looked while doing it. Wearing her work uniform and sneakers instead of high heels, she managed to complete the pose while multitasking with cake and a laundry line.
Her video has been shared, with people praising her balance, creativity, and fearless attitude towards taking on viral challenges.
Source: Facebook
South Africans react with amazement
Viewers couldn't believe what they were seeing and filled her comments with praise:
@Sfiso Shezi was impressed:
"You are very fit for someone who eats pap every day, I give it to you 100%."
@Zimkhitha Manentsa asked:
"How did you get up there?"
@Nobuhlee Ndhlovu Chidarikire declared:
"Yes, challenge closed kkkkk!"
@Andile Ndie Malingah celebrated:
"Yes! Yes! Yes! And the challenge is closed!"
@Judy Hwam laughed:
"You can never disappoint 😂😅🤣"
@Thoko Tee Ndhlovu joked:
"The power of photosynthesis and metabolism never disappoints."
@Cynthia Nyathi agreed:
"Omg! 😂😂 It's closed. Straight!"
Dangerous viral challenge concerns doctors
The Nicki Minaj challenge has been spreading across social media platforms, with hundreds of people attempting the difficult balancing act. However, doctors are warning people on global platforms about the serious risks involved with this trend.
Dr. Jihad Abouali, an orthopaedic surgeon, explained that the challenge puts people in a very flexed position that strains the knee joints. He warned that falling could result in serious injuries like meniscus tears, ACL injuries, or even spinal damage. A Russian influencer recently fractured her spine while attempting this exact challenge.
The doctor sees about one patient a week who has been injured copying social media trends, and he is concerned about people getting hurt trying to recreate these viral videos.
Briefly News spoke to medical expert Jayshri Rangasamy regarding why people should discern whether viral challenges are dangerous first before just trying out anything. She stated:
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"People should be cautious of viral social media challenges because they often promote dangerous actions without proper safety awareness. These challenges can lead to serious injuries or worse, especially when individuals attempt stunts that are physically risky."
"For example, the "Milk Crate Challenge" involved people stacking milk crates into a pyramid and trying to walk across them. Many participants fell from significant heights, resulting in broken bones and other injuries. What may seem like a fun trend online can quickly become hazardous when safety is ignored for the sake of views or likes."
Watch the Facebook clip below:
Laiza has been named one of the 2025 Briefly News: The Real Housekeepers of Mzansi. The series celebrates the dedication and inspiring stories of domestic workers across South Africa. Laiza has become a respected and loved content creator.
She opened up about growing up in Zimbabwe, moving to South Africa to chase her dreams, and raising her children while caring for her employer’s. This year, she joins six other remarkable women whose stories highlight the value, hard work, and heart that housekeepers bring to homes across Mzansi.
Other domestic worker-related stories
- Seneria Moyo, a dedicated domestic worker, rose from humble beginnings through determination and hard work, and the sacrifices she made to support her family continue to inspire many.
- Beauty Katiyo, known online as Gogo Mujubheki, has spent 15 years building her social media presence as a domestic worker sharing home remedies, inspiring thousands with the way she finds beauty in her daily challenges.
- Briefly News also featured Nelia Ngulube, a Johannesburg domestic worker with 16 years of experience, who turned her hard work into sweet success with a new rusk business.
Updated by Hilary Sekgota, Human Interest HOD at Briefly News.
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Proofreading by Roxanne Dos Ramos, copy editor at Briefly.co.za.
Source: Briefly News
Nerissa Naidoo (Human Interest Editor) Nerissa Naidoo is a writer and editor with seven years of experience. Currently, she is a human interest writer at Briefly News and joined the publication in 2024. She began her career contributing to Morning Lazziness and later joined Featherpen.org. As a TUW ghostwriter, she focused on non-fiction, while her editorial roles at National Today and Entail.ai honed her skills in content accuracy and expert-driven editing. You can reach her at nerissa.naidoo@briefly.co.za
Jayshri Rangasamy (Medical Scientist - Pharmacologist - Clinical Team Lead) Jayshri Rangasamy, Fortrea's Clinical Operations Delivery Leader, oversees the company's Clinical Team. She has extensive experience in both infectious diseases (tuberculosis, Ebola, COVID-19) and non-infectious diseases (cardiovascular, endocrinology, and gastroenterology), as well as oncology (lung cancer, hematologic malignancies). Rangasamy, who holds a MS and BS in Pharmacology and Human Physiology from the University of Pretoria, is an advocate for empathetic leadership. She's also a certified Latin and ballroom dancer.
