Roseanna Hall, Miss Universe Zimbabwe, and a number of other African competitors may be unable to compete in Puerto Rico this year due to their battle for a US visa.
Hall is scheduled to compete for Zimbabwe in the 75th Miss Universe pageant; the winner will be announced on November 24. However, she has not yet received a visa to enter US territory.In a video that was uploaded to her Instagram page, Hall stated, “We have been back and forth, trying to get my visa approved.”
Miss Universe Visa Restrictions: Quick Facts
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Event | 75th Miss Universe Competition |
| Location | Puerto Rico |
| Main Issue | US Travel and Visa Restrictions |
| Affected Countries | Zimbabwe, Zambia and South Sudan |
| Zambia Representative | Pamela Mubanga |
| Zimbabwe Representative | Hall |
| Contestant Arrivals | 8 November |
| US Policy | Presidential Proclamation 10998 |
| Effective Date | 1 January 2026 |
| Latest Development | Zambia withdrew its representative from the competition. |
Hall is not the only African competitor impacted by the limitations. Due to travel limitations in the US, Pamela Mubanga, Zambia’s representative, has withdrew from the competition.
On November 8, contestants started traveling to Puerto Rico for registration, fittings, and other pre-pageant events. This put pressure on Hall and others, including the South Sudanese representative, to obtain their visas.I was officially scheduled to travel to Puerto Rico for the 75th Miss Universe pageant today,” Hall stated.
Presidential Proclamation 10998 imposes partial travel restrictions on 19 nations, including Zimbabwe.
Zambia Withdraws Miss Universe Contestant
The Miss Universe organization in Zambia said in a statement that Mubanga’s predicament was due to travel constraints rather than personal problems.The statement said, “Mubanga’s situation is linked to the United States’ presidential travel restriction affecting Zambia and other African countries, unlike situations where a contestant’s visa is denied due to personal circumstances, documentation, or organizational challenges.”
Mubanga, a 25-year-old licensed nurse, was scheduled to represent Zambia at the international pageant after winning the title of Miss Universe Zambia on October 8.
African Contestants Face Miss Universe Visa Hurdles
The Miss Universe organization in Zambia said in a statement that Mubanga’s predicament was due to travel constraints rather than personal problems.The statement said, “Mubanga’s situation is linked to the United States’ presidential travel restriction affecting Zambia and other African countries, unlike situations where a contestant’s visa is denied due to personal circumstances, documentation, or organizational challenges.”
Mubanga, a 25-year-old licensed nurse, was scheduled to represent Zambia at the international pageant after winning the title of Miss Universe Zambia on October 8.
Although it did not identify them, the statement claimed that five other African nations had same problems.
