Meet a Former CIA Chief of Disguise | Object of Intrigue | Atlas Obscura

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Published 2020-07-22

Meet Jonna Mendez, the former CIA Chief of Disguise (a real job!). During her tenure, Mendez oversaw the equipment used by spies to conceal their identities, including a five-second mask, which had been inspired by Hollywood. The technology, developed over a period of 10 years, allowed for facial movement—and, unlike its cinematic counterparts, which required hours in the makeup chair, it could be put on and removed at a moment’s notice. Listen to Mendez explain the ins and outs of this unique piece of spy technology.

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To learn more about the International Spy Museum's collection of unique objects, visit their website here: www.spymuseum.org/ And a special thanks to Clint Emerson, the owner of this fascinating mask.

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All Comments (21)

@carsonpower5948 1 year ago

i was waiting for her to peel her face off to reveal that she was wearing a mask the whole time lol
@murunbuchstanzangur 3 years ago

Someone out there is looking at this, and saying that's frank! I fucking knew there was something off about him!
@joshuatheargonaut4412 3 years ago

Well if they are showing us this now , one wonders what they use at present
@MrDREWASIDE 3 years ago

Brilliant detail down to skin pores!
@Sabocat 3 years ago

I wish I could hear Jonna Mendez over the music.
@ZakWolf 3 years ago

Joanna joined the CIA back in 1970. Before the 1960s, such masks used to only exist in comics and cartoons, for the most part (such as the Looney Tunes, or Batman's disguises.) Then Hollywood and the CGI managed to make them a reality. And today we have impressive silicone rubber masks that cover the head and neck that can be even more realistic and durable than latex. One maker of such masks even had a similar tagline: "Put on a five-hour makeup job in just five seconds!"
@benjaminnguyen554 10 months ago

what could be faster than this 5 second mask thing and more realistic!? this gives me goosebumps
@joetheplummer8128 1 year ago

Billy has been using this latex for the Paul McCartney role.
@namaste91 3 years ago

Of course it's Joana Mendez. Legend.
@Whisky_Tango_Foxtrot-jc5uq 3 years ago

This job sounds like a hell of a lot of fun.
@gigimarino3764 1 year ago

So we really don;;t know who we are looking at anymore on tv
@mandybellep230 2 years ago

That are cloning now no worries 👍🏻
@MrArtVein 3 years ago

The larger issue is now as an operative they have your actual face mould. Imagine pissing someone off and now someone's committing crimes with your face as blackmail
@krustserver 2 years ago

Wtf where is the demonstration? I was looking forward to it!
@peterdegraff1506 3 years ago

Great rhythmic background "music" BUT WE CAN'T HEAR THE SPEAKER!!!!!
@jackmomma7481 2 years ago

At 0:05 ... they just spilled the beans that Ringo Starr... isn't. He's just a rubber Scooby-Doo mask
@edwardcheves9106 2 years ago

Funny how they never showed those masks in use...
@marywangen4696 3 years ago

Cool info Annoyingly unnecessary music
@roughneckwoman20 3 years ago

I believe wholeheartedly that Joe Biden is not Joseph R Biden you could interrogate me with force I would say the same
@madaug5101 3 years ago

This is absolutely amazing. Thank you.