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African Miss Universe Contestants Struggle to Get U.S. Visas
The New York Times • • world
Key Points:
- At least two African contestants for Miss Universe, including Miss Zambia and Miss Zimbabwe, risk missing the pageant in Puerto Rico due to delays in securing U.S. visas amid travel restrictions by the Trump administration.
- Miss Zambia, Mubanga Pamela Hatyoka, confirmed she would not attend the event on November 24 because of visa issues linked to U.S. travel restrictions affecting Zambia and other African nations.
- Contestants from South Sudan and the Republic of Congo are also facing visa delays, with the Trump administration having imposed full or partial travel bans on 36 countries, 29 of which are in Africa.
- The Miss Universe organization has not commented on the visa issues, and the Department of Homeland Security did not respond to inquiries; the administration defends its policies as necessary for national security.
- The travel restrictions, expanded in December to include Zambia and Zimbabwe, have significantly impacted African nations' access to U.S. visas, complicating participation in international events like Miss Universe.
