--- title: "African Miss Universe contestants miss competition over US visa bans" publication: "MediaBias News" url: "https://mediabias.news/politics/african-miss-universe-contestants-miss-competition-over-us-visa-bans" api: "https://mediabias.news/api/v1/stories/african-miss-universe-contestants-miss-competition-over-us-visa-bans" markdown: "https://mediabias.news/politics/african-miss-universe-contestants-miss-competition-over-us-visa-bans.md" audio: "https://mediabias.news/api/audio/african-miss-universe-contestants-miss-competition-over-us-visa-bans" category: "Politics" area: "Africa" published: "2026-11-13T17:05:12.919Z" source_reported: "2026-11-13T16:34:16.000Z" updated: "2026-11-13T17:05:12.919Z" trust_score: 42 critic_score: 60 hype_score: 41 assessment_type: "coverage-and-source-reporting-analysis" fact_check_status: "not-performed" coverage_measured: "2026-11-13T17:00:13.201934+00:00" --- # African Miss Universe contestants miss competition over US visa bans *Contestants from Zambia and Republic of Congo withdrew, while others await visas due to US travel restrictions.* **Scores for the source reporting** (0-100, assessing the original journalism this article was written from, not this write-up): - Trust 42 of 100, higher is better. One full report and 33 digests establish the central claim; no named sources or independent outlets. - Craft 60 of 100, higher is better. The full report provides context and quotes, while digests offer brief summaries. - Hype 41 of 100, lower is better. Headlines use strong language like 'force' and 'hit' to describe visa restrictions. Scored by MediaBias News; method at https://mediabias.news/methodology. **The short version** - Two African contestants, from Zambia and the Republic of Congo, will miss the Miss Universe competition in Puerto Rico. - Their withdrawal is due to visa restrictions imposed by the US administration. - Contestants from South Sudan and Zimbabwe are still awaiting their visas. - The US has implemented broad travel restrictions impacting many African countries. Two African contestants will not participate in the Miss Universe competition in Puerto Rico because they were unable to obtain US visas. Representatives from Zambia and the Republic of Congo have withdrawn from the event. Contestants from South Sudan and Zimbabwe are still in the process of securing their visas. The United States has enacted sweeping travel restrictions that affect numerous countries, many of them in Africa. These restrictions were introduced under proclamations issued during Donald Trump's second administration. The administration expanded these restrictions in December to include additional countries, such as Zambia and Zimbabwe, while maintaining a complete entry suspension for nationals from the Republic of Congo and South Sudan. ## Disagreement on the number of affected countries The Star Kenya reports that 19 countries face partial US travel restrictions. The Print states that Zimbabwe is one of 19 countries, including Zambia, Nigeria and Senegal, facing partial US travel restrictions. Other reports do not specify a number of affected countries. ## What the coverage left out None of the left-rated digests mention the specific dates for preliminary activities or the final crowning of the Miss Universe competition. The full report from CTV News, rated centre, provided these dates: a national costume competition on 21 November, swimsuit and evening gown segments on 22 November, and the winner crowned on 24 November. None of the right-rated digests mention the specific dates for preliminary activities or the final crowning of the Miss Universe competition. ## Who covered it Shares of the 30 covering outlets with a published leaning rating: - Left: 57% (17) - Centre: 36% (11) - Right: 7% (2) 4 of 34 covering outlets carried no usable leaning rating and were excluded from those percentages. Coverage measured 2026-11-13T17:00:13.201934+00:00. **Coverage watch:** developing. Checked 2 times; 0 checks found a material change. Most recently checked 2026-11-13T17:30:12.757Z. ## How the sides framed it ### Left - Left-rated reports highlighted the US visa restrictions as the direct cause for contestants missing the Miss Universe competition. Several reports noted that the restrictions were imposed by President Donald Trump's administration. For example, The Mercury News' headline stated: 'US visa restrictions force some African contestants out of Miss Universe competition'. IndexHR reported that 'Misses From Africa Cannot Get US Visas, They Are Threatened with Missing Out on Miss Universe'. Associated Press News, also rated left, reported that 'US visa restrictions force some African contestants out of Miss Universe competition'. ### Centre - Centre-rated reports focused on the impact of US visa restrictions on African contestants participating in the Miss Universe competition. CTV News, which provided a full report, stated in its headline: '2 African contestants will miss Miss Universe competition because they couldn’t get U.S. visas'. Hindustan Times reported that 'Trump's visa restrictions force two African contestants out of Miss Universe in Puerto Rico'. My Mother Lode's headline read: 'US visa restrictions force some African contestants out of Miss Universe competition'. ### Right - Right-rated reports highlighted the visa hurdles faced by African Miss Universe contestants. ARY News' headline stated: 'African beauty queens in limbo as US visa curbs hit Miss Universe'. The Print reported that 'African Miss Universe contestants facing US visa hurdles. 19 countries hit by travel curbs'. **Provisional coverage gap:** right. The watch is not closed, so this is not yet a settled blindspot finding. ## Factuality profile of the covering outlets These are published factuality ratings of the outlets, not a verdict on whether this story or its claims are true. - mixed: 5 - high: 10 - unknown: 4 - veryHigh: 15 ## Verification scope This page compares coverage and scores the source reporting. It is not a ClaimReview verdict on whether the underlying event or claim is true. ## Original reporting this was written from - [The Mercury news](https://mercurynews.com/2026/11/13/miss-universe-african-contestants-visa-restrictions) — US visa restrictions force some African contestants out of Miss Universe competition - [RÚV](https://ruv.is/frettir/erlent/492681) — Fegurðardrottningar Will Be Fyrir Barðinu Á Travelbanni - [ARY News](https://arynews.tv/african-beauty-queens-in-limbo-as-us-visa-curbs-hit-miss-universe) — African beauty queens in limbo as US visa curbs hit Miss Universe - [P.M. News Nigeria](https://pmnewsnigeria.com/2026/11/13/african-contestants-face-exclusion-from-miss-universe-amid-us-visa-restrictions) — African contestants face exclusion from Miss Universe amid US visa restrictions - [Hindustan Times](https://hindustantimes.com/world-news/trumps-visa-restrictions-force-two-african-contestants-out-of-miss-universe-in-puerto-rico-101794581552321.html) — Trump's visa restrictions force two African contestants out of Miss Universe in Puerto Rico - [CTV News](https://ctvnews.ca/world/article/2-african-contestants-will-miss-miss-universe-competition-because-they-couldnt-get-us-visas) — 2 African contestants will miss Miss Universe competition because they couldn’t get U.S. visas - [IndexHR](https://index.hr/magazin/clanak/drama-uoci-miss-universea-nekoliko-misica-iz-afrike-moglo-bi-propustiti-izbor/2856734.aspx) — Misses From Africa Cannot Get US Visas, They Are Threatened with Missing Out on Miss Universe - [Business Insider](https://africa.businessinsider.com/local/markets/some-of-africas-most-beautiful-women-face-a-complex-hurdle-from-trumps-hardline-visa/5lc33m4) — Some of Africa’s most beautiful women face a complex hurdle from Trump’s hardline visa policies, as they find it difficult to enter Puerto Rico to showcase their beauty - [delo.si](https://delo.si/magazin/zanimivosti/drama-pred-miss-universe-afriske-misice-zaradi-ameriskih-vizumov-se-vedno-doma) — Drama Ahead of Miss Universe: African Miss Universes Still at Home Due to US Visas - [Heti Világgazdaság](https://hvg.hu/elet/20261113_miss-universe-donald-trump-vizum-elnoki-rendelet-zimbabwe-zambia-del-szudan-noi-modellek) — Zimbabwean Contestant's Miss Universe Pageant in Jeopardy Due to Trump's Executive Order - [My Mother Lode](https://mymotherlode.com/news/africa/11306168/us-visa-restrictions-force-some-african-contestants-out-of-miss-universe-competition.html) — US visa restrictions force some African contestants out of Miss Universe competition - [Washington Top News](https://wtop.com/world/2026/11/us-visa-restrictions-force-some-african-contestants-out-of-miss-universe-competition) — US visa restrictions force some African contestants out of Miss Universe competition – WTOP News - [The Seattle Times](https://seattletimes.com/entertainment/us-visa-restrictions-force-some-african-contestants-out-of-miss-universe-competition) — US visa restrictions force some African contestants out of Miss Universe competition - [WBAL](https://wbal.com/us-visa-restrictions-force-some-african-contestants-out-of-miss-universe-competition) — US visa restrictions force some African contestants out of Miss Univer - [Rocky Mountain Outlook](https://rmoutlook.com/lifestyle/us-visa-restrictions-force-some-african-contestants-out-of-miss-universe-competition-13013092) — US visa restrictions force some African contestants out of Miss Universe competition - [Medicine Hat News](https://medicinehatnews.com/entertainment/entertainment-news/2026/11/13/us-visa-restrictions-force-some-african-contestants-out-of-miss-universe-competition) — US visa restrictions force some African contestants out of Miss Universe competition - [thealbertan.com](https://thealbertan.com/lifestyle/us-visa-restrictions-force-some-african-contestants-out-of-miss-universe-competition-13013092) — US visa restrictions force some African contestants out of Miss Universe competition - [Associated Press News](https://apnews.com/article/miss-universe-african-contestants-travel-restrictions-22667a23cd111ad4f639e472dec8f6e7) — US visa restrictions force some African contestants out of Miss Universe competition - [The Sun Chronicle](https://thesunchronicle.com/features/stories/us-visa-restrictions-force-some-african-contestants-out-of-miss-universe-competition/article_ccaac6b2-e98e-5760-8f5e-b7138e93d96c.html) — US visa restrictions force some African contestants out of Miss Universe competition - [union-bulletin.com](https://union-bulletin.com/news/world/us-visa-restrictions-force-some-african-contestants-out-of-miss-universe-competition/article_21cdac11-644c-545a-93e0-a53b3baf8aea.html) — US visa restrictions force some African contestants out of Miss Universe competition - [abc News](https://abcnews.com/Entertainment/wireStory/us-visa-restrictions-force-african-contestants-miss-universe-138108846) — US visa restrictions force some African contestants out of Miss Universe competition - [WKMG](https://clickorlando.com/entertainment/2026/11/13/us-visa-restrictions-force-some-african-contestants-out-of-miss-universe-competition) — US visa restrictions force some African contestants out of Miss Universe competition - [KOB 4](https://kob.com/ap-top-news/us-visa-restrictions-force-some-african-contestants-out-of-miss-universe-competition) — US visa restrictions force some African contestants out of Miss Universe competition - [Newser](https://newser.com/story/399968/us-visa-rules-put-african-miss-universe-contestants-in-jam.html) — Miss Universe Contestants in Jam Over US Visa Rules - [Saudi Gazette](https://saudigazette.com.sa/article/666230/life/african-beauty-queens-likely-to-miss-miss-universe-pageant-as-trumps-travel-bans-bite) — African beauty queens likely to miss Miss Universe pageant as Trump's travel bans bite - [263Chat](https://263chat.com/zims-miss-universe-hopes-hang-in-balance-as-visa-delays-hit-roseanna-hall) — Zim's Miss Universe Hopes Hang in Balance as Visa Delays Hit Roseanna Hall - [The Star Kenya](https://the-star.co.ke/news/africa/2026-11-13-africa-miss-universe-beauty-queens-in-limbo-as-us-visa-restrictions-bite) — Africa Miss Universe beauty queens in limbo as US visa restrictions bite - [The Print](https://theprint.in/feature/roseanna-hall-african-miss-universe-contestants-us-visa-hurdles/3097951) — African Miss Universe contestants facing US visa hurdles. 19 countries hit by travel curbs - [NBC New York](https://nbcnewyork.com/entertainment/entertainment-news/african-contestants-miss-universe-pageant-us-visa-restrictions/6571991) — U.S. visa restrictions force some African contestants out of Miss Universe competition - [The Independent](https://independent.co.uk/news/world/africa/africa-miss-universe-trump-travel-ban-b3084345.html) — African beauty queens blocked from Miss Universe pageant by Trump’s travel ban - [The Independent (US)](https://the-independent.com/news/world/africa/africa-miss-universe-trump-travel-ban-b3084345.html) — African beauty queens blocked from Miss Universe pageant by Trump’s travel ban - [Winnipeg Free Press](https://winnipegfreepress.com/arts-and-life/entertainment/2026/11/13/us-visa-restrictions-force-some-african-contestants-out-of-miss-universe-competition) — US visa restrictions force some African contestants out of Miss Universe competition - [Punch Newspapers](https://punchng.com/zambia-withdraws-from-miss-universe-over-us-travel-restrictions) — Zambia withdraws from Miss Universe over US travel restrictions - [NBC LA](https://nbclosangeles.com/entertainment/entertainment-news/african-contestants-miss-universe-pageant-us-visa-restrictions/3970066) — U.S. visa restrictions force some African contestants out of Miss Universe competition ## Questions **Which African contestants will miss the Miss Universe competition?** Contestants from Zambia and the Republic of Congo have withdrawn from the Miss Universe competition. Two other contestants, from South Sudan and Zimbabwe, are still awaiting their visas. **Why are these contestants unable to attend the Miss Universe competition?** The contestants are unable to attend due to visa restrictions imposed by the US administration. These restrictions affect travel from several African countries. **Where is the Miss Universe competition being held?** This year's Miss Universe competition is being held in Puerto Rico. --- MediaBias News — https://mediabias.news. Reproduced from https://mediabias.news/politics/african-miss-universe-contestants-miss-competition-over-us-visa-bans. Please cite as: MediaBias News, "African Miss Universe contestants miss competition over US visa bans", https://mediabias.news/politics/african-miss-universe-contestants-miss-competition-over-us-visa-bans