Zambia Withdraws Miss Universe Contestant Over U.S. Travel Ban

(Roseanna Hall. Photo Credit: ZimLive)
Zambia has withdrawn its Miss Universe representative, Pamela Mubanga, from the 75th edition of the pageant because of U.S. travel restrictions that affect Zambian nationals.

Mubanga, 25, is a registered nurse.

She was crowned Miss Universe Zambia on October 8 and was due to compete in Puerto Rico on November 24.

The Miss Universe Zambia organisation said her exit has nothing to do with her personal situation or any problem within the organisation.

It blamed a U.S. presidential travel restriction that covers Zambia and several other African countries.

The group said five other African countries are facing similar problems but did not name them.

The statement was reported on Friday.

Zimbabwe's Miss Universe, Roseanna Hall, is also in doubt.

She has spent weeks in South Africa trying to get a U.S. visa.

In a video, she said today was the day she was supposed to fly to Puerto Rico.

She said other African contestants are going through the same thing.

Miss Universe South Sudan also said it is a coin toss whether she will make it.

Zimbabwe is one of 19 countries hit by partial US travel restrictions under Presidential Proclamation 10998, which took effect on January 1 2026.

The rules stop some visitor, student, exchange and immigrant visas for nationals of those countries and place limits on some other non immigrant visas.

Contestants are arriving in Puerto Rico for registration and fittings ahead of the pageant at the José Miguel Agrelot Coliseum in San Juan, where the winner is due to be crowned on November 24.