A teenage Instagram model plunged from the 17th-floor balcony of a building while she was taking a selfie, police said.
Police said the girl, identified as 16-year-old Hannah M, was trying to take a selfie with the Burj Khalifa, the world’s tallest tower, in the background.
The teen was standing on a chair at the edge of the balcony in her parents’ flat in Dubai, when she lost her balance and came crashing down the tower.
Hannah was an aspiring model of mixed Lebanese and Afghani heritage, according to social media posts. The teenager was a popular social media influencer and had a large Instagram following. .
“She was standing on a chair in the balcony and trying to take a selfie when she lost control and fell to her death,” Colonel Al Qasim, director of Security Media in Dubai Police, said.
According to police, Hannah’s sister watched helplessly as the Middle Eastern beauty tumbled over the edge of the balcony and plunged 17 floors.
“Her sister said that she was standing on a chair and leaning over the edge of the balcony when she lost her balance. While she fell out of the balcony, the mobile phone with which she was taking the selfie fell inside,” Col Al Qasim said.
Hannah and her sister are seen posing together in selfies on the girl’s social media pages.
One resident said he heard the 16-year-old screaming as she fell, followed by a loud crash as the young model’s body impacted on the ground.
“The girl landed at the base of the tower. She was killed instantly,” Col Al Qasim added.
UAE-based social media influencers have spoken out about the pressure that users face to get the “perfect selfie.”
“The youth think it is fine to do risky stunts to take the perfect shot,” said Naomi D’Souza, another Instagram influencer who lives in the building.
“I was going out from the back of the building at 1 pm and saw the body, which was covered,” Naomi added. “Initially, I didn’t know the victim was a 16-year-old girl.”
