Following her husband’s death, Erika has stepped into a leadership role as the new CEO of Turning Point USA, continuing his legacy and political mission. Her rise to public prominence has also sparked renewed interest in her background, particularly her past involvement in pageantry and connections to Donald Trump.
Before meeting her husband, Erika was involved in beauty pageants, notably competing in the 2012 Miss USA pageant. At that time, the Miss USA competition was co-owned by Donald Trump through the Miss Universe Organization. Erika won Miss Arizona USA in November 2011, which qualified her for the national stage. Her unique talent performance involved basketball dribbling, a skill that stood out among contestants.
In earlier interviews, Erika expressed a strong desire to make a positive impact through her platform. She emphasized using the pageant opportunity to promote charitable causes, including her Christian-based organization, “Everyday Heroes Like You.” Her participation in pageants like Miss Teen USA also reflected her focus on faith and philanthropy.
It is worth noting that Trump was reportedly very involved in the Miss USA pageants during his ownership, including overseeing selection processes. While there is no confirmed direct interaction between Trump and Erika during that time, their paths may have crossed within the pageant environment.
Speculation has also circulated about deeper historical ties between Erika’s family and Trump, though these claims remain unverified. Nonetheless, the overlap of professional and public spheres highlights how interconnected their histories may be.