African beauty queens face uncertainty over US visa restrictions ahead of Miss Universe

Miss Universe contestants from several African countries are facing uncertainty over their participation in this year’s competition in Puerto Rico as US visa restrictions threaten to prevent some of them from travelling.

Miss Universe Zimbabwe, Roseanna Hall, is among those affected, having yet to secure a visa for the 75th edition of the international beauty pageant, scheduled to hold on 24 November.Hall is expected to represent Zimbabwe at the competition but said she had been making repeated attempts to obtain the necessary travel authorisation.“We have been back and forth, trying to get my visa approved,” she said in a video posted on her Instagram page.

The Zimbabwean contestant is not alone, as other African representatives, including Miss Universe South Sudan, are also uncertain about their participation.Zambia has already withdrawn its representative, Pamela Mubanga, from the competition because of the US travel restrictions.The contestants were expected to arrive in Puerto Rico from 8 November for registration, fittings and other activities ahead of the final, increasing pressure on those still awaiting visa approval.In another Instagram video, Hall said 13 November was the date she was expected to travel to Puerto Rico for the competition.“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.

Miss Universe South Sudan also expressed uncertainty about her participation, commenting on Hall’s video: “It is 50/50 whether we will make it, Miss Universe.”Hall, who has spent recent weeks in South Africa attempting to secure her visa, has continued to express hope that she will make it to the competition.In an earlier video, she wrote: “The fight to get Zimbabwe to Puerto Rico continues.”US travel restrictions affect African contestantsZimbabwe is among 19 countries subject to partial US travel restrictions introduced under Presidential Proclamation 10998, which took effect on 1 January 2026.

The measures suspend the issuance of visitor, student and exchange visas, as well as immigrant visas, to nationals of affected countries. They also impose restrictions on other categories of non-immigrant visas.The Miss Universe organisation in Zambia said Mubanga’s withdrawal was directly linked to the US travel restrictions rather than any personal or organisational challenges.“Unlike situations where a contestant’s visa is denied due to personal circumstances, documentation or organisational challenges, Mubanga’s situation is linked to the United States’ presidential travel restriction affecting Zambia and other African countries,” the organisation said in a statement.

Mubanga, 25, a registered nurse, was crowned Miss Universe Zambia on 8 October and was expected to represent her country at the international competition.The statement also disclosed that five other African countries were experiencing similar difficulties, although it did not identify them.The 75th edition of Miss Universe is scheduled to hold at the José Miguel Agrelot Coliseum in San Juan, Puerto Rico, with the winner expected to be crowned on 24 November.