KIRK
Erika

• 1. Early life and career

Erika Lane Kirk is an American businesswoman and podcaster who serves as the CEO of the conservative organization Turning Point USA (TPUSA). Born in Ohio, she grew up in Arizona and won Miss Arizona USA in 2012. She is also the founder of Everyday Heroes Like You, a nonprofit supporting under-recognized charities, and hosts the Midweek Rise Up podcast.

Kirk is the widow of conservative commentator Charlie Kirk. The couple married in 2021 and had two children. Following his assassination on September 10, 2025, she was appointed CEO of TPUSA.

Early life and career

Erika Lane Frantzve was born on November 20, 1988, in Ohio, but she grew up in Scottsdale, Arizona, after her parents divorced; her grandfather was an immigrant from Sweden. She was raised in a Catholic family, with her mother taking her to soup kitchens to help. She entered beauty pageants as a way to contribute to the community. In 2006, she 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.

Kirk attended Notre Dame Preparatory High School in Scottsdale, Arizona, and later Arizona State University, where she studied political science and international relations. At Notre Dame, she played basketball and volleyball, earning the Matt Arnold Sportsmanship and Teammate Awards. She later played basketball on the women's team of Regis University in Denver, Colorado, for two years, appearing in eight games in the 2007-08 season as a reserve.

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. In 2017, she attended Liberty University, where she obtained a Juris Master degree and a doctorate in Christian leadership. As of 2025, she is studying for a doctorate in biblical studies.

In 2019, Kirk launched the podcast Midweek Rise Up. She is the CEO of Proclaim Streetwear, a clothing brand, and Bible in 365, 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, Kirk took over as CEO and Chair of the Board of TPUSA.