You’re scrolling through Peacock, maybe rewatching the messy glory of early Summer House, and suddenly a face pops up that looks way too familiar. Not "reality TV star" familiar, but "wait, isn't she in the news right now?" familiar. If you did a double-take during Season 3, you aren't crazy. Yes, Erika Kirk was on Summer House, though back then she went by Erika Frantzve.
It’s one of those bizarre reality TV crossovers that feels like a glitch in the simulation. Before she was the CEO of Turning Point USA and the widow of Charlie Kirk, she was a New York City real estate agent trying to navigate a very awkward date in the Hamptons.
The Jordan Verroi Connection
Let's set the scene. It’s 2018. Season 3 of Summer House is in full swing. The cast is at its peak levels of chaos—Kyle is "sending it," Hannah Berner is the new girl, and Jordan Verroi is... well, Jordan.
Jordan was the guy who famously claimed to be a virgin (or at least very "picky") while simultaneously trying to act like a total player. It didn't land. The housemates were skeptical. Enter Erika.
Carl Radke—yes, that Carl Radke—actually set them up. He introduced her as a friend who was "beautiful" and, crucially for Jordan's storyline, "happens to be religious."
They went on a date in Episode 11, titled "The Great Hamptons Gatsby." If you watch it now, the vibes are stiff. Honestly, it’s painful. They’re sitting at a table, Jordan is trying to be charming, and Erika is just... there. She wasn't a main cast member. She was a "friend of" or a guest, brought in specifically to see if Jordan could actually close the deal with a woman who shared his supposed values.
Why everyone is talking about it now
The internet absolutely lost its mind recently when clips of this episode resurfaced. Why? Because the timeline is wild.
Erika has often shared the story of how she met her late husband, Charlie Kirk. She usually describes a life of focus and faith in NYC, often mentioning she didn't really "date" in the traditional city way for years before meeting him in late 2018. Then, boom. There she is on Bravo, sipping a drink with Jordan Verroi in August 2018.
It’s not a scandal, really. It’s just... reality TV.
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People on Reddit and TikTok have been dissecting the episodes (specifically Seasons 3, Episodes 11 and 12) like they’re the Zapruder film. Fans of the show find it hilarious that a future political power player was once caught in the middle of a Bravo production, probably being prompted by producers to ask Jordan about his "intentionality."
From the Hamptons to TPUSA
Erika wasn't just some random girl off the street, though. Even then, she had a resume. She was Miss Arizona USA 2012. She was working for The Corcoran Group—Barbara Corcoran’s real estate firm. She had a Juris Master's. She was already building her "BIBLEin365" brand.
The Summer House stint was a blip. A footnote.
She met Charlie Kirk just weeks after those episodes filmed. According to her own story, they met at a burger joint for what was supposed to be a "job interview" and ended up talking about theology for hours. By 2019, when the season actually aired on Bravo, she was already deep into her relationship with Charlie.
What the cast says
Does Carl Radke still talk to her? Probably not. When asked about her in recent years, Carl has been pretty quiet. It makes sense. The world of Bravo and the world of high-stakes conservative politics don't usually overlap at brunch.
Jordan Verroi, for his part, has mostly faded from the Bravo spotlight. His "storyline" with Erika didn't go anywhere because, well, there was no chemistry. You can’t fake that, even for the cameras.
How to watch the Erika Kirk episodes
If you want to see it for yourself, you need to head to Peacock or wherever you stream Bravo.
- Season 3, Episode 11: This is where the date happens. Look for the "Gatsby" party.
- Season 3, Episode 12: She makes another brief appearance.
It’s a fascinating look at a "pre-fame" version of someone who is now a household name in a completely different industry. She looks the same—blonde, polished, very "Hamptons"—but the context is night and day.
Key takeaways from the "Lost" Bravo era
If you're looking for deep political meaning in her appearance, you won't find it. What you will find is a classic example of how small the "young professional" circle in New York City really is. Everyone knows someone who knows Carl Radke.
- Reality TV is a small world. Many people who end up in the public eye have a "hidden" Bravo or MTV credit.
- The timeline matters. She filmed this just before her life completely changed.
- Check the credits. She is listed as Erika Frantzve, her maiden name.
If you’re a Summer House completionist, these episodes are worth a rewatch just for the "I know her!" factor. Just don't expect any political manifestos between the shots of Whispering Angel and the hot tub scenes. It was just a girl, a guy who claimed he didn't have sex, and a production crew trying to make a date look interesting.
Next steps for the curious: Go to Peacock, search for Summer House Season 3, and skip to the 35-minute mark of Episode 11. You'll see the introduction that everyone is buzzing about.