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Zimbabwe’s Miss Universe representative Roseanna Hall is facing a race against time to make it to Puerto Rico after failing to secure a United States visa, just as contestants from around the world begin arriving for the 75th edition of the global beauty pageant.
Hall was expected to depart for Puerto Rico today, November 8, to represent Zimbabwe at the prestigious competition but her travel plans have been thrown into uncertainty by American visa complications.
In an emotional video appeal posted on social media, the beauty queen revealed that she was still struggling to secure the necessary travel documents.
“Today, I was meant to leave for Puerto Rico to represent Zimbabwe at the 75th Miss Universe. Unfortunately American visa challenges have del…” she said in her post.
Her predicament comes as the pageant’s arrival programme gets underway, with 121 contestants expected to arrive in Puerto Rico between November 7 and 10.
The 75th anniversary edition is scheduled to culminate in a grand finale on November 24 at the José Miguel Agrelot Coliseum in San Juan.
But Hall is not the only African beauty queen caught in the visa storm.
Zambia’s representative, Mubanga Pamela Hatyoka, is also struggling to secure a US visa, forcing the Miss Universe Zambia organisation to appeal directly to the Zambian Government and the United States Embassy for urgent intervention.
National director Alice Rowlands Musukwa revealed that the organisation had spent three weeks trying to secure the necessary travel documents without success.
In her appeal, Musukwa said Hatyoka was not travelling for personal reasons but to represent her country, raise its flag and promote its culture on an international platform.
The organisation acknowledged assistance from the Ministry of Youth and Sports, particularly Director of Arts and Permanent Secretary Kangwa Chileshe, but said further intervention was needed as the pageant approached.
With the competition now moving into its official programme, the pressure is mounting on Hall and Hatyoka to resolve their respective travel challenges.
For Zimbabwe, Hall’s absence would be a major disappointment, particularly as the country looks forward to showcasing its beauty, culture and talent at the historic anniversary edition.
