African beauty queens, including Miss Universe Zimbabwe Roseanna Hall, are racing against time to secure United States visas as strict travel restrictions threaten their participation in the upcoming international pageant.
Visa Hurdles Threaten African Contestants
Hall is scheduled to represent Zimbabwe at the 75th edition of the Miss Universe pageant, which concludes with the crowning ceremony on 24 November in Puerto Rico. However, she has not yet obtained the necessary travel documentation for the US territory.
As reported by BBC News, Hall explained in an Instagram video that she has been continuously attempting to get her travel clearance approved. She noted that she was originally scheduled to leave for Puerto Rico on the day registration and pre-pageant activities began.
Zambia has already withdrawn its representative, Pamela Mubanga, from the competition as a direct result of these travel measures. The Miss Universe organization in Zambia stated that Mubanga’s inability to travel stems from national restrictions rather than personal or administrative shortcomings.
Mubanga, a 25-year-old registered nurse who won the national title on 8 October, was blocked by regulations affecting Zambia and several other nations. The Zambian organization added that five other African countries are encountering similar hurdles.
Restrictions and Ongoing Efforts
The travel challenges stem from Presidential Proclamation 10998, implemented on 1 January 2026, which places partial US travel limitations on 19 countries. The policy suspends tourist, student, exchange, and immigrant visas for citizens of the impacted nations while also restricting other non-immigrant visa categories.
Hall, who spent several weeks in South Africa attempting to secure her clearance, stated that other contestants from the continent are experiencing the exact same difficulties. The representative from South Sudan also commented on Hall’s social media post, stating that her own attendance remains uncertain.
Despite the obstacles, Hall indicated in a separate video that she remains hopeful about reaching the competition venue. The grand final of the pageant is set to take place at the José Miguel Agrelot Coliseum in San Juan.
