The 75th edition of the Miss Universe pageant, set to take place in Puerto Rico, has become increasingly stressful for some African contestants. Visa complications threaten to keep them away from the international competition. Miss Universe Zimbabwe, Roseanna Hall, is still trying to secure a US visa, with the grand finale scheduled for 24 November.
Hall is not the only African beauty queen facing uncertainty. Zambia has withdrawn its contestant, Pamela Mubanga, a 25-year-old registered nurse, from the competition due to US travel restrictions. The Miss Universe organisation in Zambia stated that Mubanga's inability to participate was linked to government travel measures rather than personal or administrative issues.
The visa challenges have been linked to Presidential Proclamation 10998, which introduced partial US travel restrictions affecting nationals of 19 countries, including Zimbabwe. The measures, which took effect on 1 January 2026, suspend the issuance of certain visas, including visitor, student, exchange and immigrant visas, to nationals of the affected countries.
Hall revealed that she had spent several weeks in South Africa attempting to resolve her visa situation. She also acknowledged that other African contestants were dealing with similar uncertainty. The representative of South Sudan also appeared uncertain about her participation, commenting that it is 50/50 whether they will make it to the pageant.
The Miss Universe Zambia organisation disclosed that five other African countries were experiencing similar difficulties, although it did not identify them. The situation has become more urgent as contestants have already started arriving in Puerto Rico, with registration, fittings and other preliminary activities beginning on 8 November.
Despite the difficulties, Hall has not given up hope of travelling to Puerto Rico. In a video shared on Instagram, she indicated that efforts to secure her visa were still ongoing. The 75th Miss Universe grand finale is scheduled to take place on 24 November at the José Miguel Agrelot Coliseum in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
The participation of several African representatives remains uncertain as the competition approaches. Hall and other affected participants have limited time to resolve their travel challenges. The Miss Universe pageant has become a significant event, with many contestants working hard to represent their countries.
Key points
- US visa restrictions affect several African countries, causing uncertainty for their Miss Universe contestants.
- Zambia has withdrawn its contestant, Pamela Mubanga, from the competition due to US travel restrictions.
- The 75th Miss Universe grand finale is scheduled to take place on 24 November in Puerto Rico.
