African Miss Universe Contestants Face Uncertainty as US Visa Restrictions Threaten Participation

Table of Contents

• You might want to know


• Main Topic


• Key Insights Table


• Afterwards...

You might want to know

• Why could African contestants miss the 75th edition of Miss Universe in Puerto Rico?


• How are US travel restrictions affecting contestants, and what broader questions do they raise about international competitions?

Main Topic

Several African contestants face uncertainty over whether they can attend this year’s Miss Universe competition in Puerto Rico, as US visa restrictions complicate travel arrangements. Among them is Miss Universe Zimbabwe Roseanna Hall, who is due to represent Zimbabwe at the pageant’s 75th edition. The winner is scheduled to be crowned on 24 November, but Hall had not yet obtained a visa to travel to the US territory when she described her situation publicly.

In a video posted on her Instagram page, Hall said she and her team had repeatedly tried to secure approval. “We have been back and forth, trying to get my visa approved,” she said. The process has left her unsure whether she can reach Puerto Rico in time for the event and its preparations. Hall later explained that she had spent the past few weeks in South Africa attempting to obtain the necessary visa.

The timing is significant because contestants began arriving in Puerto Rico on 8 November. Their early arrival was intended to allow them to complete registration, fittings and other activities scheduled before the pageant. With those preparations already under way, Hall and other contestants, including the representative from South Sudan, faced mounting pressure to resolve their travel situations.

Hall said that the day she spoke was officially when she had expected to leave for Puerto Rico. Her comments conveyed how quickly the competition’s schedule was approaching while her travel plans remained unresolved. In another video posted three days earlier, she had expressed hope that she would still make it to the island. She captioned that post: “The fight to get Zimbabwe to Puerto Rico continues.”

Hall is not the only contestant affected. Zambia has withdrawn its representative, Pamela Mubanga, from the competition because of US travel restrictions. The Miss Universe organization in Zambia said Mubanga’s situation was connected to the restrictions rather than to an individual visa problem, a documentation issue or an organizational challenge.

In its statement, the organization explained that Mubanga’s circumstances were linked to a presidential travel restriction affecting Zambia and other African countries. It distinguished her case from situations in which a visa may be denied because of a contestant’s personal circumstances or paperwork. The statement also said that five other African countries faced similar difficulties, although it did not identify them.

Mubanga, a registered nurse, was crowned Miss Universe Zambia on 8 October. At 25, she was due to represent her country at the international pageant. Zambia’s decision to withdraw her illustrates how a travel rule can affect not only an individual contestant but also a country’s planned participation in a major international event.

The restrictions cited in the reports were introduced under Presidential Proclamation 10998 and took effect on 1 January 2026. Zimbabwe is among 19 countries subject to partial US travel restrictions. The measures suspend the issuance of visitor, student and exchange visas, as well as immigrant visas, to nationals of affected countries. They also place restrictions on other categories of non-immigrant visas.

These measures create practical obstacles for contestants whose participation depends on obtaining permission to travel. Although the pageant is taking place in Puerto Rico, contestants may still need to meet US entry and visa requirements. The restrictions therefore can shape who is able to attend, even when an event is international and its participants have already been selected by their national organizations.

Hall said that she was not alone in facing this difficulty. “Some of my African sisters are facing the same predicament, and I know exactly what they are going through,” she said. Her comments reflect the shared uncertainty reported by other contestants, while also making clear that each person’s circumstances may differ. In a comment on Hall’s video, Miss Universe South Sudan expressed doubt about whether she would be able to participate, writing: “It is 50/50 whether we will make it, Miss Universe.”

The statements from the contestants and national organizations point to a distinction between individual visa decisions and broader policy restrictions. A visa application can be affected by personal documentation or other case-specific factors. However, when restrictions apply to nationals of particular countries, applicants may face barriers that are not resolved simply by completing paperwork or meeting event deadlines.

The central issue is not only whether individual contestants can travel, but also how broad entry policies can affect representation at international events. When a national representative cannot attend, the consequences extend beyond the contestant. The country may lose its opportunity to participate, and the competition may be unable to include all the representatives selected for that year.

The pageant’s final is scheduled to take place at the José Miguel Agrelot Coliseum in San Juan. The approaching event date makes timely visa decisions particularly important. Contestants need to travel not only for the final itself but also for the registration, fittings and other pre-pageant activities that begin before the main event.

The situation also raises questions about how event organizers, national pageant bodies and contestants can plan for travel uncertainties. International competitions generally depend on coordination among participants, organizers and relevant authorities. When government restrictions affect travel eligibility, organizers may have limited ability to change the underlying rules, while contestants may have little control over the timing of official decisions.

In this case, the available statements do not identify all the African countries affected or provide a final outcome for every contestant. Hall continued to express hope that she could travel, while Zambia had already withdrawn Mubanga. South Sudan’s representative described her prospects as uncertain. These different situations show that a shared policy environment can produce different outcomes for individuals and national teams.

Clear and timely information can be valuable in circumstances like these. Contestants and organizers need to understand which requirements apply, what steps remain available, and whether a participant can reasonably reach the event before scheduled activities begin. Such information does not remove the restrictions, but it can help individuals and organizations make informed decisions and communicate changes to audiences.

Key Insights Table

Afterwards...

The visa difficulties facing African contestants demonstrate how international participation can depend on policies that extend beyond the event itself. The pageant’s schedule, national selection processes and contestants’ preparation all rely on the ability to travel. When restrictions intervene, individuals and organizations must navigate uncertainty while an event’s deadlines continue to approach.

Looking ahead, event organizers and national organizations could explore clearer contingency planning for participants facing travel barriers. This may include early communication about entry requirements, practical timelines for visa applications, and transparent procedures for addressing unavoidable absences. Such measures cannot guarantee a visa or override government policy, but they may help participants and organizers respond more effectively when plans change.

Further work in digital event access could also help international competitions maintain some connection with participants who cannot travel. Remote interviews, virtual appearances or other online formats may offer limited alternatives for visibility and communication. These approaches cannot fully replace in-person participation, particularly when fittings and stage activities are integral to the competition, but they may provide useful options in specific circumstances.

More broadly, governments, event organizers and civil society could continue examining how travel policies affect cultural exchange, professional opportunities and representation. Reliable information, careful planning and fair access to international participation are important areas for continued attention. The outcome for Hall and other contestants remained uncertain in the reported statements, but their experiences highlight the practical consequences that policy decisions can have for people seeking to take part in global events.