For most people outside US far-right and Christian circles, the first time they’d heard of Erica Kirk was when she vowed last week to continue her late husband Charlie Kirk’s work and mission.

“You have no idea what you have unleashed across this country and this world.” she warned opponents of her slain far-right influencer husband in a video statement last Sunday.

After being named as her husband’s successor as CEO chair of the conservative non-profit Turning Point USA on Friday, Kirk is now in a position to make her angry statement a reality.

Charlie Kirk, 31, was fatally shot in what officials called a “political assassination” while speaking at Utah Valley University’s campus on September 10.

Tyler Robinson, 22, has been arrested in relation to the killing and is facing charges of aggravated murder, felony discharge of a firearm and obstruction of justice. He was formally charged at his first court appearance last Tuesday.

Turning Point USA, the organisation Charlie Kirk co-founded to mobilise young, Christian conservatives, has seen a massive surge in interest and support since his assassination.

The group appears poised to remain a MAGA juggernaut but questions remained as to who would continue Kirk’s work. Erika Kirk’s appointment would appear to answer those questions. 

Who is Erika Kirk?

Entrepreneur and podcaster Erika Lane Frantzve, now 36, married Charlie Kirk in 2021 at a ceremony in Scottsdale, Arizona.

Before marrying, Frantzve was crowned Miss Arizona USA in 2012 and went on to received a Juris Master degree and a doctorate in Christian leadership from Liberty University in 2019.

She also earned an undergraduate degree in political science and international relations at Arizona State University.

Erika Kirk was crowned Miss Arizona USA in 2012. Photo: Erica Kirk/Instagram

She founded a Christian clothing line, Proclaim, and a ministry that teaches about the Bible.

Erika Kirk has a following in her own right and  often appeared with her husband at Turning Point events.

She is also the host of the Midweek Rise Up podcast, which she describes as a “devotional series focused on Biblical leadership and empowering others to lead with integrity and purpose”.

Alex Kolodin, an Arizona Republican politician who is closely aligned with Turning Point said he was confident Kirk’s widow would hold the movement together.

“She’s not going to let anybody break apart her husband’s legacy,” Kolodin was quoted as saying by The Associated Press.

Turning Point USA future

Turning Point USA is a campus advocacy group promoting conservative causes, while its affiliated group Turning Point Action played an important role in the 2024 US presidential election.

It is credited with helping to encourage young conservative voters – who don’t typically cast ballots in US elections – in swing states such as Arizona, Michigan and Wisconsin.

Turning Point is also a fundraising behemoth, with its two primary nonprofit arms taking in almost US$100 million ($A151 million) in 2024. A separate non-profit wing called the Turning Point Endowment has an additional US$60.9 million in the bank.

Erica Kirk already has a following in Christian and far-right circles. Photo: Instagram

Both Turning Point and Kirk’s other ventures have received unprecedented interest since he his assassination.

Kirk’s podcast is now among the most visited shows Apple, while his social media accounts have attracted millions of new followers and his clips have millions of views.

Turning Point has also received more than 60,000 inquiries to start new campus chapters, according to the AP.

The group has 3500 chapters on university campuses and in high schools across the US.