In a daring and romantic display, two masked adventurers scaled the heights of the Empire State Building with a protest banner on Wednesday. The couple, Angela Nikolau, 33, and Vanya Beerkus, 32, hailing from Russia and known for their appearance in a Netflix documentary, ascended the towering New York City spire rising to a whopping 1,454 feet. As they clung to the pinnacle, they unfurled a banner declaring, “When the power of love beats the love of power, the world knows peace.” This message, seemingly adapted from a quote by British politician William Gladstone and often incorrectly attributed to rock legend Jimi Hendrix, flew until noon. Following their sky-high declaration, the climbers descended around 12:30 pm, with Beerkus pausing to propose on a lower platform.
To the astonishment of onlookers, Nikolau accepted the heart-stopping proposal as a helicopter buzzed around them capturing the memorable moment. The couple pulled off their masks to share a kiss, sealing their sky-high engagement. Nikolau, an influencer known for her daredevil antics atop skyscrapers, shared a video of the duo atop the Empire State Building around midday. Featured in the 2024 Netflix documentary “Skywalkers: A Love Story,” Nikolau frequently showcases her thrilling climbs, often accompanied by musician Beerkus, while wearing her signature black cat mask.
Nikolau later shared a series of pictures from their breathtaking escapade, including a shot of Beerkus proposing and a glimpse of her sparkling diamond engagement ring. The NYPD swiftly arrived at the scene, detaining the couple by around 1 pm, according to CBS News. The daring duo might face charges such as trespassing and reckless endangerment. Down below, tourists and spectators watched in awe as the scene above unfolded, prompting the swift evacuation of the Empire State Building’s observation deck.
Julie Morris, an eyewitness to the scene, shared her perspective with the media: “We were right at the top. I saw two individuals open the gates—the mesh gates—they opened them and went up. I just thought they had permission to be there.” Meanwhile, street-level chaos ensued, with police cordoning off the area and closing the street in the shadow of the iconic landmark.
