Several African contestants may miss the 75th edition of the Miss Universe competition due to difficulties obtaining US visas. The pageant is scheduled to take place in Puerto Rico, with the grand finale set for November 24, 2026.
Contestants from Zambia and the Republic of Congo have already withdrawn after failing to secure the necessary travel authorisation. Meanwhile, representatives from Zimbabwe and South Sudan are still facing uncertainty over their participation.
Miss Universe Zimbabwe Roseanna Hall has publicly spoken about her visa difficulties. She was expected to travel to Puerto Rico on November 8 but could not leave as planned because her visa approval was still pending.
In a video shared on Instagram, Hall said she had been repeatedly trying to secure her visa. She also expressed hope that the issue would be resolved, despite months of preparation for the international competition.
Hall said she was not the only contestant facing this problem, adding that several other African representatives were dealing with similar challenges.
Zambia has already withdrawn its representative, Pamela Mubanga Hatyoka, from the competition. The country's Miss Universe organisation said her withdrawal was directly linked to US travel restrictions rather than personal circumstances or documentation problems.
The Republic of Congo's representative, Georgina Kambongo, has also withdrawn. Her national organisers attributed her inability to attend the competition to the same travel restrictions.
South Sudan's representative, Adut Deng, is also facing uncertainty. Organisers said efforts were ongoing to secure the required travel documents and approvals for her participation.
The visa difficulties are linked to US travel restrictions introduced under Presidential Proclamation 10998, which took effect on January 1, 2026. The restrictions affect several countries, including Zambia, Zimbabwe, the Republic of Congo and South Sudan.
Puerto Rico is a US territory, meaning international contestants must meet US entry and visa requirements to participate in the competition.
The 75th Miss Universe competition is expected to attract up to 120 contestants. Delegates have started arriving in Puerto Rico for registration, rehearsals and other pre-pageant activities.
The national costume competition is scheduled for November 21, followed by preliminary swimsuit and evening gown rounds on November 22. The winner will be crowned on November 24.
The final participation of the Zimbabwean and South Sudanese contestants remains uncertain as the competition approaches.
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