Trump's visa restrictions force two African contestants out of Miss Universe in Puerto Rico

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Contestants from Zambia and the Republic of Congo have withdrawn from this year’s Miss Universe in Puerto Rico after failing to secure US visas. | World News

Two African contestants will miss this year's Miss Universe competition in Puerto Rico because of visa restrictions imposed by President Donald Trump's administration, while two others are struggling to obtain visas.

Representatives from Zambia and the Republic of Congo have withdrawn from the pageant, which takes place this month in the US territory, after failing to secure visas. Contestants from South Sudan and Zimbabwe are still awaiting theirs.

The United States has imposed sweeping travel restrictions affecting dozens of countries, many of them in Africa, under proclamations issued during Trump's second administration.

Last December, the administration expanded restrictions to additional countries, including Zambia and Zimbabwe, while maintaining a full suspension of entry for nationals of the Republic of Congo and South Sudan.

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"She earned her crown, she earned her title, and she deserves the opportunity to represent the nation she proudly serves," Miss Universe Zambia organizers said in a statement this week announcing the withdrawal of their representative, Mubanga Pamela Hatyoka.

In the Republic of Congo, Georgina Kambongo made history when she was crowned the Central African country's first Miss Universe representative. National organisers say her inability to travel to Puerto Rico is linked solely to Trump's travel restrictions.

"American visa challenges have delayed that journey, but the fight is not over," Zimbabwe's representative, Roseanna Hall, said in a social media post. "After months of preparation, I am not giving up. I remain confident that God who began a good work in me will bring it to completion."

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