African Miss Universe Contestants Struggle to Get U.S. Visas

What the report says

At least two Miss Universe contestants from African countries said they were at risk of missing this month’s pageant in Puerto Rico because they had not obtained U.S. visas in time. The New York Times reported that the delays come amid tighter U.S. immigration restrictions affecting several African nations under the Trump administration.

Among the contestants affected is Mubanga Pamela Hatyoka of Zambia, who, according to Arm Model Management, will not travel to the Nov. 24 event because her visa had not been issued. The agency said her case was connected to U.S. travel restrictions affecting Zambia and other African countries. Roseanna Hall of Zimbabwe also said on social media that she had not received a visa, though she said she was not giving up.

The article said contestants from South Sudan and the Republic of Congo were also facing delays, based on other news reports. The Miss Universe organization did not immediately comment, and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security did not respond to a request for explanation. The reasons for the visa delays were not clear from the available information.

The Times noted that the broader issue reflects a long-running debate over U.S. visa barriers for African travelers, with governments often citing migration control and fraud prevention while critics argue the rules can block legitimate travel for work, study and international events.