Did Erika Kirk Once Share Pageant Connections with President Donald Trump?

Erika Kirk’s previous connections with President Donald Trump are now drawing public attention. The topic gained momentum after Trump embraced her at the funeral of her late husband, Charlie Kirk, in September 2025. Many online users are now asking if her earlier career linked her to Trump’s pageant business. Records confirm that she did compete in the Miss USA contest in 2012, which was owned by Trump at the time.

The questions arise because Erika later worked in modeling and casting. Some internet users believe she may have worked directly with Trump’s beauty pageant company. Official documents do not confirm such ties. Her website states she worked in casting and modeling, but it does not mention Trump or his organizations by name.

Erika Kirk’s Career and Pageant History

Erika Kirk was crowned Miss Arizona USA in 2012. She then went on to compete in the Miss USA pageant. During that period, the Miss Universe Organization, which ran Miss USA, was co-owned by Donald Trump. This link is where most speculation starts.

Her own career records show she worked later as a model, actress, and casting director. However, it is unclear if those roles were tied to Trump’s companies. According to Reuters, Trump sold the Miss Universe Organization in 2015, years after Erika’s participation. By then, she had already moved into other ventures.

She founded a nonprofit called Everyday Heroes Like You at the age of 17. Later, she launched the BIBLEin365 ministry and a faith-based clothing line. These efforts show her work shifted from pageants and casting to faith-based and social projects.

Public Interest in Trump–Kirk Link

The renewed focus began after Erika’s public appearance with Trump at Charlie Kirk’s funeral. The hug between them was widely shared online. Commentators quickly resurfaced her pageant history and alleged casting roles.

Some social media posts suggested she worked for Trump’s pageants after competing. While this theory is popular, it has not been confirmed by official sources. Her studies at Arizona State University and Liberty University show she pursued academic and legal paths. She earned a Juris Master’s degree in law studies, which had no direct link to pageants or Trump’s ventures.

In personal life, Erika met Charlie Kirk during a job interview in 2018. They married in 2021 in Arizona. Her journey from pageants to nonprofit and ministry work has been well-documented, but no verified records prove she worked under Trump.

In short, Erika Kirk’s previous connections with President Donald Trump are tied only to her participation in the 2012 Miss USA pageant. Other claims remain unverified.

FYI (keeping you in the loop)-

Q1: Did Erika Kirk work for Donald Trump’s pageants?

She competed in Miss USA 2012, which was owned by Trump. But no verified record shows she worked for him as staff.

Q2: What was Erika Kirk’s role in Miss USA?

She represented Arizona in 2012. That was the main confirmed link between her and Trump’s company.

Q3: When did Donald Trump sell the Miss Universe Organization?

Trump co-owned it from 1996 until 2015. He sold it before Erika’s later career in nonprofit and ministry work.

Q4: What organizations did Erika Kirk create?

She founded Everyday Heroes Like You and the BIBLEin365 ministry. She also started a faith-based clothing line.

Q5: How did Erika Kirk meet Charlie Kirk?

They met in 2018 during a job interview. They began dating in 2019 and married in 2021.

Sources

Reuters, Associated Press, BBC, NBC News, The Guardian