THE MISTRESS OF DISGUISE
Daily Express|April 29, 2024
Jonna Mendez was responsible for helping CIA agents pass incognito while undercover or operating in dangerous parts of the world. Her real-life Mission: Impossible-style masks were so realistic they fooled spies, terrorists, drug dealers... and even the president
Peter Sheridan
THE MISTRESS OF DISGUISE

HEADS turned as the pretty Latina woman waltzed past White House security in the early 1990s. With her thick curly hair, full lips and fluttering eyelashes above a delicately turned nose, in a crisp camel blazer, a pearl necklace above the open collar of her chocolate brown floral dress, Jonna Mendez walked with authority into the Oval Office, trailing the head of the CIA.

Sitting beside President George HW Bush, she explained that she had come to demonstrate advanced new disguise techniques the CIA could use to evade Russian spies.

"We would convincingly disguise an officer, even create a clone of an officer - a twin!" she told the president. "We could change the officer's ethnicity or gender, or 'borrow' another person's identity if necessary."

Yet Bush seemed troubled that Mendez had brought no bags with her containing the new disguises. "I'm wearing it," said Mendez, and stood to reveal her true identity. "Hold on!" said Bush, formerly the CIA chief.

"Don't take it off yet." He circled Mendez, searching her face intently for signs of a false nose, or seam.

Defeated, he shrugged: "OK, do it."

In a scene that could have come straight from Tom Cruise and the Mission: Impossible movies that followed years later, Mendez pulled off her full-face mask, revealing her as a fair-skinned blue-eyed Caucasian with dark blonde hair, at least 15 years older than the young Hispanic girl who had entered the room minutes earlier.

"The president's face came alive," she says today. "His eyes were almost sparkling as he asked me questions.

"The masks were something that no one else, not even Hollywood, could do." Funding was approved to develop the new life-like masks, whose expressive facial mobility allowed CIA agents in Moscow, Havana and Iran to move freely without being tailed or arrested.

Esta historia es de la edición April 29, 2024 de Daily Express.

Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 8500 revistas y periódicos.

Esta historia es de la edición April 29, 2024 de Daily Express.

Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 8500 revistas y periódicos.

MÁS HISTORIAS DE DAILY EXPRESSVer todo
YOUNG LIONS HUNGRY FOR EURO SUCCESS
Daily Express

YOUNG LIONS HUNGRY FOR EURO SUCCESS

Southgate wants fresh faces to guard against complacency

time-read
2 minutos  |
May 23, 2024
JIMMY: I HAVE MY DOUBTS
Daily Express

JIMMY: I HAVE MY DOUBTS

Anderson admits mulling over decision to quit England scene

time-read
2 minutos  |
May 23, 2024
HE SET GOLD STANDARD IN THE POOL
Daily Express

HE SET GOLD STANDARD IN THE POOL

'Pioneer' inspired future generations

time-read
2 minutos  |
May 23, 2024
Monte Carlo is right up Lando's street
Daily Express

Monte Carlo is right up Lando's street

MANSELL BACKS NORRIS TO TROUBLE MAX AGAIN

time-read
2 minutos  |
May 23, 2024
FRIENDLY TAKEOVER
Daily Express

FRIENDLY TAKEOVER

Shepherd loses his Derby ride to Havlin

time-read
1 min  |
May 23, 2024
Bishop gets on his bike for gigs
Daily Express

Bishop gets on his bike for gigs

JOHN Bishop has got a \"whole new perspective\" by travelling to his tour dates by motorbike.

time-read
1 min  |
May 23, 2024
Devastating US tornadoes leave a trail of death and destruction
Daily Express

Devastating US tornadoes leave a trail of death and destruction

A TOWN lies in ruins with several people dead after tornadoes, strong enough to buckle massive wind turbines, tore across three US states.

time-read
2 minutos  |
May 23, 2024
Vet Brin lifts MasterChef 2024 trophy
Daily Express

Vet Brin lifts MasterChef 2024 trophy

BRIN Pirathapan has been named this year's MasterChef champion after what judge John Torode called the \"best final ever\".

time-read
1 min  |
May 23, 2024
Junk food linked to memory loss and stroke risk
Daily Express

Junk food linked to memory loss and stroke risk

EATING too much ultra-processed food such as crisps, burgers and ice cream increases the risk of memory problems and stroke, a study has revealed.

time-read
1 min  |
May 23, 2024
I thought I was going to die. I hit my head and woke up on the floor. It was scary
Daily Express

I thought I was going to die. I hit my head and woke up on the floor. It was scary

ONE of the British passengers on the turbulence-hit fatal flight to Singapore last night described the chaos and terror on board and admitted he thought he was about to die.

time-read
2 minutos  |
May 23, 2024