Erika Kirk

American political activist (born 1988)

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Erika Lane Kirk (née Frantzve; born November 20, 1988) is an American businesswoman, nonprofit executive, and podcaster. She serves as chairwoman and CEO of Turning Point USA (TPUSA), a conservative organization co-founded and led by her late husband, Charlie Kirk, until his assassination in September 2025. She was appointed as his successor following his death.

Kirk won Miss Arizona USA in 2012 and competed in Miss USA 2012. She founded two initiatives: Everyday Heroes Like You, a nonprofit highlighting overlooked charities, and BIBLEin365, which encourages Bible reading. Kirk also hosts the podcast Midweek Rise Up. She married Charlie in 2021 after they began dating in 2019, and they had two children together.

Early life

Erika Lane Frantzve was born on November 20, 1988, in Ohio to Lori and Kent Frantzve. After her parents' divorce, she grew up in Scottsdale, Arizona. One of her grandfathers was an immigrant from Sweden. In an interview with Megyn Kelly, Kirk mentioned that her mother, Lori, said their family has a Lebanese-Italian background.

She attended Notre Dame Preparatory High School in Scottsdale, Arizona, where she played basketball and volleyball, earning the Matt Arnold Sportsmanship and Teammate Awards. In 2006, Kirk established Everyday Heroes Like You, a 501(c)(3) organization that she described as a way to "promote and highlight the everyday heroes in our communities who have a philanthropic desire to truly make a difference in the lives of others", with national programs. She played basketball for two years at Regis University in Denver, Colorado, appearing in eight games in the 2007–08 season as a reserve. She completed her undergraduate studies at Arizona State University, double majoring in political science and international relations.

Career

Kirk participated in the Miss Arizona USA 2012 pageant, which she won on her 23rd birthday, and then represented Arizona in Miss USA 2012, but failed to place. She holds a degree in American Legal Studies from Liberty University, where she is studying for a doctorate in biblical studies as of 2025. In 2019, Kirk launched the podcast Midweek Rise Up. That year, she also appeared on the reality television series Summer House.

She is the CEO of Proclaim Streetwear (Proclaim365), a clothing brand, and BIBLEin365, a ministry project. As of 2025, she works as a real estate agent at the Corcoran Group in New York City. After the assassination of her husband, Charlie Kirk, she took over as CEO and chair of the board of Turning Point USA (TPUSA).

Personal life

Erika and Charlie Kirk started dating in New York City in 2019, and they became engaged in December 2020. Charlie was the co-founder of Turning Point USA (TPUSA). They married on May 8, 2021, in Scottsdale. TPUSA funded a wedding reception, held at the Fairmont Scottsdale Princess hotel, coinciding with the organization's ninth anniversary. Erika was frequently seen at Charlie's events. The couple went on to have two children, a daughter born in 2022 and a son born in 2024.

On September 10, 2025, Charlie was assassinated while speaking at Utah Valley University, a stop of his American Comeback tour. She subsequently gave a widely reported address from TPUSA headquarters, pledging to carry on her husband's activities.

In an interview with The New York Times, Kirk explained how she pushed to see her husband's body against advice from law enforcement. She reportedly told authorities, "With all due respect, I want to see what they did to my husband", before kissing him goodbye. She said he looked like he died happy with a "Mona Lisa–like half-smile". A memorial service for Charlie was held on September 21 at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona, where Kirk publicly forgave the man accused of killing her husband. The service was attended by over 90,000 people, including President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance.