Zambia has pulled its representative, Pamela Mubanga, out of the 2026 Miss Universe competition following United States travel restrictions affecting citizens of the country.

Mubanga, a 25-year-old registered nurse, was crowned Miss Universe Zambia on October 8 and was expected to compete in the 75th edition of the international pageant scheduled for November 24 in Puerto Rico.

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The Miss Universe Zambia organisation announced her withdrawal, attributing the development to US government restrictions rather than personal issues, documentation problems or organisational difficulties.

According to a statement reported by the BBC on Friday, the organisation explained that the restrictions affecting Zambia and other African countries had made Mubanga’s participation difficult.

It disclosed that five other African countries were facing similar challenges but did not name them.

The development has also raised concerns over the participation of other African contestants, including Zimbabwe’s representative, Roseanna Hall, who is yet to secure a US visa.

Hall said she had made several attempts to obtain the necessary travel approval and had spent weeks in South Africa trying to resolve the issue.

In a video posted on Instagram, she expressed disappointment that she had reached her scheduled departure day without securing the required travel documents.

She also acknowledged that other African contestants were experiencing similar difficulties, expressing sympathy and solidarity with them.

The representative of South Sudan equally indicated uncertainty about her participation, commenting on Hall’s video that her chances of attending the competition remained uncertain.

Zimbabwe is among 19 countries affected by partial US travel restrictions introduced through Presidential Proclamation 10998, which came into effect on January 1, 2026.

The restrictions affect the issuance of certain visitor, student, exchange and immigrant visas to nationals of the listed countries, alongside limitations on other non-immigrant visa categories.

The visa difficulties have emerged as contestants prepare to travel to Puerto Rico for registration, fittings and other activities ahead of the competition.

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The 75th Miss Universe pageant is scheduled to take place at the José Miguel Agrelot Coliseum in San Juan, Puerto Rico, on November 24, when the next winner will be crowned.