Roseanna Hall, the Miss Universe representative from Zimbabwe, is facing significant uncertainty regarding her participation in the 75th edition of the Miss Universe pageant. The competition is scheduled to conclude on 24 November in Puerto Rico, but Hall has yet to obtain the necessary US visa to travel to the territory. In a video shared on her Instagram account, she described the ongoing efforts to get her visa approved, noting that the process has been a back and forth struggle.
Hall is not the only African contestant affected by the current US visa restrictions. Zambia has officially withdrawn its representative, Pamela Mubanga, from the competition due to these travel barriers. Mubanga, a 25-year-old registered nurse who was crowned Miss Universe Zambia on 8 October, was originally set to represent her country at the international event.
Contestants began arriving in Puerto Rico on 8 November for registration, costume fittings, and other pre-pageant activities. This schedule has placed considerable pressure on Hall and other participants, including the representative from South Sudan, to finalize their visa applications in time for the event. Hall noted that the current date was officially the day she was supposed to depart for Puerto Rico.
Zimbabwe is one of 19 countries subject to partial US travel restrictions introduced under Presidential Proclamation 10998, which took effect on 1 January 2026. These measures suspend the issuance of visitor, student, and exchange visas, as well as immigrant visas, to nationals of the affected countries. Additionally, the restrictions apply to other categories of non-immigrant visas.
The Miss Universe organization in Zambia issued a statement clarifying that Mubanga's withdrawal was a direct consequence of the broader travel restrictions rather than individual circumstances. The statement emphasized that unlike cases where a visa is denied due to personal documentation or organizational challenges, Mubanga's situation is linked to the United States' presidential travel restriction affecting Zambia and other African nations.
According to the same statement, five other African countries are facing similar difficulties, although they were not named in the release. Hall expressed solidarity with these contestants, stating that she shared their concerns. She added that she had spent the past few weeks in South Africa in an attempt to secure her visa.
Hall highlighted that she is not alone in this predicament, noting that several of her African counterparts are facing the same issues. She stated that she understands exactly what they are going through. In another video posted three days prior, she expressed hope that she would still be able to make it to Puerto Rico, captioning the clip with the message that the fight to get Zimbabwe to the venue continues.
Uncertainty also surrounds the participation of Miss Universe South Sudan. In a comment on Hall's video, she described the situation as being fifty-fifty regarding whether she would be able to make it to the competition. The final pageant is scheduled to take place at the Jose Miguel Agrelot Coliseum in San Juan.
The visa challenges highlight the impact of the new US travel policies on international events held in US territories. As the competition date approaches, the affected contestants continue to navigate the bureaucratic hurdles while preparing for what is a major international showcase.
The outcome of these visa applications will determine which representatives are able to compete on stage. For now, the focus remains on the logistical efforts to secure the necessary documentation before the winner is crowned.
