Miss Universe Zimbabwe faces U.S. visa hurdles for Puerto Rico pageant amid online speculation
HARARE — Miss Universe Zimbabwe Roseanna Hall is struggling to secure a U.S. visa needed to compete in the 75th Miss Universe pageant in Puerto Rico, prompting online speculation that a recent business trip to Iran by a politician from her hometown may be a factor.
Hall, 34, from the mining town of Shurugwi, has been in South Africa for more than a week seeking visa approval. Contestants began arriving in the U.S. territory on Nov. 8 for registration and preparations ahead of the Nov. 24 crowning.
In an Instagram video, Hall said: “We have been back and forth, trying to get my visa approved.” She added that the Zimbabwean government, stakeholders and the Miss Universe Zimbabwe organization were assisting and that she would not give up.
Zimbabwe is among 19 countries subject to partial U.S. travel restrictions under Presidential Proclamation 10998, which took effect Jan. 1, 2026. The measures limit certain visitor, student, exchange and immigrant visas for nationals of the listed countries. Puerto Rico, as a U.S. territory, requires a U.S. visa for entry.
Other African contestants face similar hurdles. Zambia withdrew its representative, Pamela Mubanga, citing the restrictions. Delegates from additional African countries, including South Sudan, have also reported difficulties.
On the social media platform X, activist Rutendo Matinyarare questioned whether a highly publicized late-October trip to Iran by former legislator Temba Mliswa was now affecting Hall. Matinyarare noted that Hall, Mliswa and businessman Kudakwashe Tagwirei all hail from Shurugwi and described Mliswa and Tagwirei as architects of the Iran visit.
Mliswa led a business delegation to Iran that signed memoranda of understanding on discounted tractors, mining cooperation and other areas. The trip drew criticism from some quarters over potential U.S. sanctions exposure for Zimbabwe.
Mliswa has publicly urged the Zimbabwean government to intervene on Hall’s behalf, calling her a national brand ambassador whose participation would showcase the country’s culture and tourism. He described the situation as “deeply saddening.”
Replies to Matinyarare’s post pointed out that contestants from countries including Zambia, Angola and others also face visa problems and argued that linking Hall’s case specifically to the Iran trip or shared hometown amounted to speculation without evidence.
Hall was crowned Miss Universe Zimbabwe in June 2026. No official U.S. statement has attributed her individual visa delay to the Iran trip or any personal associations. Efforts to obtain comment from the U.S. Embassy in Harare or Pretoria were not immediately successful.