African Miss Universe beauty queens in limbo as US visa restrictions bite
Miss Universe Zimbabwe Roseanna Hall and several other contestants from Africa could miss this year’s competition in Puerto Rico as they race to secure a US visa. Hall is due to represent Zimbabwe at the 75th edition of the Miss Universe pageant, with the winner set to be crowned on 24 November. But she has […]
Miss Universe Zimbabwe Roseanna Hall and several other African contestants find themselves in a precarious situation as they battle to secure a US visa for this year's pageant in Puerto Rico. Hall, who is set to represent Zimbabwe, has yet to receive her visa to travel to the US territory. In a video posted on her Instagram, she expressed her frustration over the back-and-forth process in obtaining the visa.
Hall is not the only African contestant facing this issue; Zambia has withdrawn its representative, Pamela Mubanga, from the competition due to US travel restrictions. The Miss Universe organization in Zambia acknowledged that Mubanga's situation is a result of the travel restrictions rather than personal circumstances. Five other African countries are also experiencing similar difficulties.
The restrictions, introduced under Presidential Proclamation 10998, took effect on January 1, 2026, and suspend the issuance of various non-immigrant visas to nationals of the affected African countries, including Zimbabwe. Despite the challenges, Hall remains hopeful and continues to fight for Zimbabwe's participation in the Miss Universe pageant, scheduled to take place at the José Miguel Agrelot Coliseum in San Juan.
Written by urgent.news from Adom Online's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
This story
This is one outlet's version. Read the fullest account.
