African beauty queens blocked from Miss Universe pageant by Trump’s travel ban

Detailed summary

The US has partially suspended issuing visas for people from Zimbabwe and Zambia since January

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Leading African beauty queens fear they could be left out of this year’s Miss Universe competition due to difficulties obtaining a US visa, after Donald Trump restricted travel for dozens of foreign countries.

Roseanna Hall, who is set to represent Zimbabwe in the 75th edition of the international pageant, said this week she was struggling to get the necessary authorisation to travel to the United States to take part in the competition.

“Today is the day that I was supposed to be leaving for Puerto Rico ... but unfortunately, due to the partial ban on Zimbabwe and other nations by the United States, we have been back and forth trying to get my visa approved,” she said.

In a video posted to social media on Sunday, Ms Hall said that she was aware of other African competitors who had been facing “the same challenges”.

“I am not alone in this predicament. Some of my African sisters are facing the same predicament, and I know exactly what they are going through,” she said.

Pamela Mubanga, who had been due to represent Zambia, reportedly withdrew from the competition due to trouble obtaining a visa.

The Miss Universe organisation in Zambia said in a statement that Ms Mubanga, 25, had had to pull out due to the US’s “presidential travel restriction affecting Zambia and other African countries”, according to the BBC.

Another five African countries had been affected, the broadcaster reported.

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