African Miss Universe beauty queens in limbo as US visa restrictions bite
According to BBC, 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. The final is scheduled for 24 November, and Hall said in an Instagram video that she has been trying hard to get her visa approved. Zimbabwe is among 19 countries subject to partial US travel restrictions introduced under Presidential Proclamation 10998, which took effect on 1 January 2026. Zambia has also withdrawn its representative, Pamela Mubanga, because of these travel restrictions, noting in a statement that her situation is a direct consequence of the policy affecting Zambia and other African countries. Hall, who has been seeking her visa in South Africa, stated that she is not alone in this predicament, while Miss Universe South Sudan also expressed uncertainty regarding her participation.