Four African beauty queens are unable to travel to Puerto Rico for the 75th Miss Universe competition because of United States visa restrictions that took effect on 1 January 2026.

Puerto Rico, a U.S. territory, requires all foreign visitors to obtain the appropriate U.S. visa, making the Trump administration’s travel bans a direct barrier for contestants from the affected nations.

Zambia’s Miss Universe title‑holder, Pamela Mubanga Hatyoka, has withdrawn after failing to secure a visa, with national organisers stressing that the decision stems from the U.S. restrictions rather than any fault of the contestant.

The Republic of Congo also lost its debut contestant, Georgina Kambongo, after the same travel limitations prevented her from obtaining clearance, marking a setback for the Central African nation’s first appearance at the pageant.

Zimbabwe’s Roseanna Hall remains in the process of applying for a visa, stating that the delay does not diminish her ambition to compete, while South Sudan’s Adut Deng continues to seek the necessary travel documents after months of effort.

The travel restrictions, expanded in December 2025, placed Zambia and Zimbabwe under partial entry bans and imposed full entry suspensions for nationals of the Republic of Congo and South Sudan, with limited exceptions based on visa category.

The Miss Universe pageant, scheduled for 21‑24 November 2026 in Puerto Rico, expects up to 120 contestants, with the national costume competition on 21 November and the final crowning on 24 November.