US Travel Restrictions Threaten African Participation at Miss Universe Pageant

The participation of several African delegates in the 75th Miss Universe pageant in Puerto Rico has been thrown into uncertainty due to United States travel restrictions implemented earlier this year. Contestants began arriving in San Juan on November 8 for preliminary fittings and registration ahead of the final event scheduled for November 24 at the José Miguel Agrelot Coliseum.

The disruptions stem from Presidential Proclamation 10998, which came into force on January 1, 2026. The policy imposes a suspension on the issuance of visitor, student, exchange, and immigrant visas for citizens from 19 countries, while placing additional limitations on other non-immigrant visa classifications. Because Puerto Rico is a territory of the United States, participants must comply with federal entry rules to attend the event.

The restrictions have already led to the withdrawal of Miss Universe Zambia, Pamela Mubanga, a 25-year-old registered nurse who won her national title on October 8. The Miss Universe organization in Zambia stated in an official release that Mubanga's situation is linked to the United States' presidential travel restriction affecting Zambia and other African countries, distinguishing her case from individual visa rejections based on personal documentation. The Zambian organizers added that delegates from five other African nations face comparable impediments.

Other representatives continue efforts to secure travel clearance before the final stage of the pageant. Miss Universe Zimbabwe, Roseanna Hall, has spent recent weeks in South Africa attempting to obtain a visa, stating through public video updates that her travel plans remain unresolved. The representative for South Sudan similarly indicated that her participation in San Juan remains uncertain as official pageant activities proceed.

Written by Martina Kirchner martina.kirchner@alpineweekly.com