Zimbabwe's Miss Universe hopeful, Roseanna Hall, and several other African contestants are facing the possibility of missing the 75th Miss Universe pageant in Puerto Rico due to stringent US visa restrictions. Hall, who is set to represent Zimbabwe, has yet to secure a visa to travel to the US territory, where the winner will be crowned on November 24.
In a video shared on her Instagram page, Hall expressed her frustration: "We have been back and forth, trying to get my visa approved." She is not the only one affected; Zambia has already withdrawn its representative, Pamela Mubanga, from the competition due to the same travel restrictions.
Contestants began arriving in Puerto Rico on November 8 for registration, fittings, and other pre-pageant activities, increasing the urgency for Hall and others, including the representative from South Sudan, to secure their visas and join the festivities.
"Officially, today is the day I was supposed to be leaving for Puerto Rico for the 75th edition of Miss Universe," Hall lamented.
Zimbabwe is among 19 countries subject to partial US travel restrictions under Presidential Proclamation 10998, which took effect on January 1, 2026. These measures suspend the issuance of visitor, student, and exchange visas, as well as immigrant visas, to nationals of the affected countries, while imposing limits on other non-immigrant visas.
In a statement, the official pageant organization in Zambia clarified that Mubanga's situation was a direct result of the restrictions rather than any personal circumstances. "Unlike situations where a contestant's visa is denied due to personal circumstances, documentation, or organizational challenges, Mubanga's situation is linked to the United States' presidential travel restriction affecting Zambia and other African countries," the statement read.
Mubanga, 25, a registered nurse, was crowned Miss Universe Zambia on October 8 and was set to represent the country at the international pageant.
The statement also noted that five other African countries are facing similar difficulties but did not name them. Hall echoed these concerns, revealing that she has spent the past few weeks in South Africa trying to secure her visa. "I am not alone in this predicament. Some of my African sisters are facing the same predicament, and I know exactly what they are going through," she said.
The Miss Universe South Sudan organization also expressed uncertainty about its representative's participation, commenting on Hall's video: "It is 50/50 whether we will make it, Miss Universe."
In another video posted three days earlier, Hall remained hopeful: "The fight to get Zimbabwe to Puerto Rico continues."
The pageant's final is scheduled to take place at the José Miguel Agrelot Coliseum in San Juan.
