India, Sept. 27 -- Erika Kirk, 36, has stepped into national attention following the assassination of her husband, Charlie Kirk, the founder of Turning Point USA. Within days of his death, she took on a leadership role at the organization, continuing the work he had led.

Raised in metro Phoenix in a Catholic household, Erika first entered the spotlight in 2012 when she won the Miss Arizona USA title. She went on to compete in Miss USA that same year, a pageant then co-owned by Donald Trump through the Miss Universe Organization. The experience linked her early on to Trump, who would later become a central figure in her political circle.

Beyond pageantry, Erika appeared briefly on Bravo's Summer House in 2019, though she later turned dow...