African Miss Universe Contestants Face Uncertainty as US Visa Restrictions Bite

Several African beauty queens risk missing the 75th Miss Universe competition in Puerto Rico as they struggle to obtain United States visas amid travel restrictions affecting their countries.

Miss Universe Zimbabwe, Roseanna Hall, is among the contestants facing uncertainty over her participation, having yet to secure the visa required to travel to the US territory for the pageant.

Hall disclosed the challenge in a video shared on Instagram, saying she had made several attempts to get her visa approved.

“We have been back and forth, trying to get my visa approved,” she said.

Zambia Withdraws Its Representative

Zambia has already withdrawn its contestant, Pamela Mubanga, from the competition because of the travel restrictions.

Mubanga, a 25-year-old registered nurse, was crowned Miss Universe Zambia on October 8 and was expected to represent her country at the international pageant.

In a statement, the Miss Universe organisation in Zambia said her inability to participate was linked to the US government's travel restrictions rather than personal circumstances, documentation issues or organisational challenges.

The organisation also disclosed that five other African countries were experiencing similar difficulties, although it did not identify them.

Miss Universe South Sudan has also expressed uncertainty about its participation. Responding to Hall's Instagram video, the representative wrote that it was uncertain whether she would make it to the competition.

US Travel Restrictions Affect African Contestants

Zimbabwe is among 19 countries affected by partial US travel restrictions introduced under Presidential Proclamation 10998, which took effect on January 1, 2026.

The measures suspend the issuance of visitor, student, exchange and immigrant visas to nationals of the affected countries, while also imposing restrictions on other categories of non-immigrant visas.

The restrictions have complicated travel arrangements for contestants hoping to attend the pageant, with participants beginning to arrive in Puerto Rico on November 8 for registration, fittings and other pre-event activities.

Hall said she had spent the past few weeks in South Africa trying to secure her visa and expressed solidarity with other African contestants facing similar challenges.

“I am not alone in this predicament. Some of my African sisters are facing the same predicament, and I know exactly what they are going through,” she said.

Despite the uncertainty, Hall has continued to express hope that she will be able to travel to Puerto Rico, writing in a recent social media post: “The fight to get Zimbabwe to Puerto Rico continues.”

Miss Universe Final Set for November 24

The 75th edition of the Miss Universe competition is scheduled to conclude on November 24 at the José Miguel Agrelot Coliseum in San Juan, Puerto Rico.

The visa challenges have raised concerns about the participation of African contestants in an international event that brings together representatives from countries across the world.

BBC News