Erika Kirk

Erika Lane Kirk (; 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.

Erika won Miss Arizona USA in 2012 and competed in Miss USA 2012. She founded two initiatives: Everyday Heroes Like You, a nonprofit which highlights overlooked charities, and BIBLEin365, which encourages Bible reading. Erika 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 divorced, she was raised by her mother in Scottsdale, Arizona. One of her grandfathers was an immigrant from Sweden. She was raised Catholic.

She attended Notre Dame Preparatory High School in Scottsdale, Arizona, where she played basketball and volleyball, earning the Matt Arnold Sportsmanship and Teammate Awards. 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 Frantzve competed in the Miss Arizona USA 2012 pageant, which she won on her 23rd birthday, and then represented Arizona in Miss USA 2012, In 2019, Frantzve 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, 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 became CEO and chair of the board of Turning Point USA (TPUSA). In March 2026, President Donald Trump appointed her to the United States Air Force Academy Board of Visitors.

Personal life

Erika and Charlie Kirk began dating in New York City in 2019, and became engaged in December 2020. Charlie was the co-founder of Turning Point USA (TPUSA). They married on May 8, 2021, in Scottsdale. She was frequently seen at Charlie's events.

On September 10, 2025, Charlie was assassinated while speaking at Utah Valley University during his American Comeback tour. She later delivered a widely reported address from TPUSA headquarters, pledging to continue her husband's work.

In an interview with The New York Times, Kirk described how she insisted on seeing her husband's body despite law‑enforcement advice. 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 appeared to have 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 between 90,000 and 100,000 people, including President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance.

Kirk was present at the White House Correspondents' Dinner shooting in April 2026. She was unharmed and was seen crying as security escorted her away.