Born in New York City, Serpa became one of the first women allowed into the rodeo area to photograph, which led to a 48-year-long career until her death in 2012.
For example, during her debut at the Waldorf Astoria, she rode sidesaddle down a bannister, tearing her dress on an uneven joint.
[4] After graduating in 1943, Serpa took a summer job as a ranch hand in Cody, Wyoming, where she met and fell in love with Lex Connelly, one of the founders of the modern rodeo.
[4] After graduating from Vassar, Serpa sang and danced along the East Coast in support of wartime USO programs.
[3] On one occasion, Serpa was launched 8 feet into the air by a bull, which additionally rammed her into the ground after she made her way back down to earth, breaking her sternum and some ribs.
[6] In 1970, she became the first woman allowed on the courses of the prestigious Grand National in England and the first to cover the Dublin Horse Show.
[1] Serpa's art has hung in galleries around the world, including in the personal collection of Ralph Lauren.
[5] The two inherited a family a sheep ranch in Ashland, Oregon, where they raised their daughters, Lauren and Mia Serpa.
She could no longer enter the ring, instead photographing from a platform rodeo manager Gary Williams built her.