As a journalist focusing on organised crime in Mexico, Deborah Bonello noticed that the story was being told through a biased lens. Women were often depicted as victims or, when mentioned in the media, the focus was all too often on their looks. But surely, woman – just like men – could be bad without being coerced or forced into it? Intrigued by this, Deborah started uncovering the hidden stories of powerful women drug bosses… many of which remained hidden from the world unlike their male counterparts. “Sometimes I’m really surprised at how surprised people are that women can be bad. I’ve been covering organised crime and women for so long that it doesn’t surprise me anymore. Society doesn’t want to acknowledge that because it’s uncomfortable. Women who kill and are violent are more demonised as silence is expected from women. Women themselves take advantage of these gender traits to go under the radar,” says Deborah. The story of Deborah’s fascination with the subject goes back to her childhood. She was never the girly girl who liked to wear pretty dresses and get dolled up. Deborah was born in Malta to Maltese parents. Throughout her childhood her family travelled a lot. When...