Russian model summoned over risky selfie in Dubai skyscraper

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fZ1owXJZaSQ

In exchange for extra thousand likes for a perfect Instagram snap, a Russian model risked her life by dangling from the rooftop of a skyscraper in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

Russian model Viktoria Odintcova, 22, chronicled her death-defying stunt on Instagram, where she posted a picture and video of her leaning on the ledge of the 306-meter-high Cayan Tower, known as the “Twisting Tower.”

Although the shoot was held in late January, the social media royalty, who has 3.3 million fans on the photo-sharing app, shared footage and images of her “achievement” two weeks ago.

Instead of using a safety harness, the model secured her balance by gripping a male friend’s hand.

Her perseverance paid off on social media with 700,000 views on Instagram and 5 million views on YouTube, but irked the administration of Cayan Group, the developer of the building.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BQDdRRbAP5g/?taken-by=viki_odintcova

https://www.instagram.com/p/BPu1BPIAJKP/?taken-by=viki_odintcova

The National reported that the developers are planning to take legal actions for breaching security and failing to seek permission to perform the stunt.

“Although the Cayan Tower has been periodically used for extreme sports events, in all cases there has been safety, security, and emergency services on site,” Gizel Daher, the group’s marketing and communications director, told the news site. “Under no circumstances can we condone Ms. Odintcova’s irresponsible actions, and we are in the process of reviewing our security procedures to understand and rectify where the lapse occurred and how to prevent such in the future.”

Odintcova has learned her lesson after the incident but insisted that she must be rewarded for exposing the building’s failed security system. “We deserve a reward for disclosing weaknesses in the security of that building,” she told the news site.

“We were on the rooftop of that building without any evil intentions, however, someone else could have come out there to commit suicide or an act of terrorism,” she said.

In an interview with Al Arabiya, she said the Dubai police had summoned her and let her sign a document prohibiting her from repeating the stunt.

“I know what I did was not 100 percent right or something we could have gotten away with. I don’t take pride from my actions and I hope that the Dubai authorities will understand and not ban me from coming back,” she said.  Gianna Francesca Catolico/ra