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Erika Kirk
American political activist (born 1988) From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Erika Lane Kirk (née Frantzve; born November 20, 1988) is an American businesswoman, nonprofit executive, and podcaster. She is the chairwoman and CEO of the conservative organization Turning Point USA (TPUSA), which her late husband Charlie Kirk co-founded and led until his assassination in September 2025. She was appointed as his successor following his death.
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Kirk previously won Miss Arizona USA in 2012 and participated in Miss USA 2012. She is the founder of Everyday Heroes Like You, a nonprofit supporting under-recognized charities, and BIBLEin365, a faith-based initiative that promotes reading the Bible. She also hosts the Midweek Rise Up podcast. She and Charlie began dating in 2019, married in 2021, and had two children together.
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Early life
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Erika Lane Frantzve was born on November 20, 1988,[1][2] in Ohio, to Lori and Kent Frantzve.[3] She was raised in Scottsdale, Arizona, following her parents' divorce. Her grandfather was an immigrant from Sweden.[4][5] She was raised in a Catholic family, with her mother taking her to soup kitchens to help. She has said she entered beauty pageants as a way to contribute to the community, stating: "My mom used to take us to soup kitchens and constantly said we needed to share our blessings with others. When I learned that by competing I could touch more people, further my causes, I knew it was a chance to make a greater impact."[6]
In 2006, Kirk established Everyday Heroes Like You,[7] 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.[8] She attended Notre Dame Preparatory High School in Scottsdale, Arizona,[9] where she played basketball and volleyball, earning the Matt Arnold Sportsmanship and Teammate Awards.[9] She played basketball for two years at Regis University in Denver, Colorado, appearing in eight games in the 2007–08 season as a reserve.[6] She completed her undergraduate studies at Arizona State University, receiving a degree in political science and international relations.[10][11]
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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,[6] 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.[12] In 2019, Kirk launched the podcast Midweek Rise Up.[13] She is the CEO of Proclaim Streetwear, a clothing brand,[11] and BIBLEin365, a ministry project.[14] As of 2025, she works as a real estate agent at the Corcoran Group in New York City.[15] After the assassination of her husband, Charlie Kirk, she took over as CEO and chair of the board of Turning Point USA (TPUSA).[16][17]
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Personal life
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Erika and Charlie Kirk started dating in New York City in 2019,[18][19] and they became engaged in December 2020.[20] Charlie was the co-founder of Turning Point USA (TPUSA).[21] They married on May 8, 2021, in Scottsdale.[20] TPUSA funded a wedding reception, held at the Fairmont Scottsdale Princess hotel, coinciding with the organization's ninth anniversary.[22] Erika was frequently seen at Charlie's events.[19] The couple went on to have two children, a daughter born in 2022 and a son born in 2024.[23]
On September 10, 2025, Kirk's husband was assassinated while speaking at Utah Valley University, a stop of his American Comeback tour.[24][25] She subsequently gave a widely reported address from TPUSA headquarters,[26][27][28] pledging to carry on her husband's activities.[29]
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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".[3][30] A memorial service for Charlie was held on September 21 at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona.[31] The service was attended by over 90,000 people.[32][33][34] Prominent figures in attendance included President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance,[35] where Kirk publicly forgave Tyler Robinson, the man accused of killing her husband.[36]
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