Anna Lee Mahoney, the woman behind the iconic “Miss Atomic Bomb” photo from 1957, has finally been identified after 25 years of investigation. The Atomic Museum revealed that Mahoney was the woman in the cotton mushroom cloud swimsuit captured by Las Vegas News Bureau photographer Don English. Previously known as Lee Merlin, Mahoney’s true identity was discovered through birth records and communication with a relative.
Mahoney, a performer at the Sands Hotel Copa showroom in Las Vegas at the time, became the face of the Atomic Age with English’s creation of the cotton mushroom cloud swimsuit photo. The image, taken on the same day as Operation Plumbbomb, became a symbol of the era’s cultural significance.
After years of performing in Las Vegas, Mahoney moved to Hawaii and then to California, where she worked as a mental health counselor. The museum will honor Friedrichs’ discovery with a temporary exhibit this summer to showcase Mahoney’s identity and the evolution of the iconic photo throughout the years. Her story now connects to the history preserved at the Atomic Museum, shedding light on the vibrant and unique role Las Vegas played in the Atomic Age.
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