Trapezist, equilibrist, bull fighter. She is the daughter of Mário Pinto Mendes and Leonor Vieira, who performed with bulls. She debuted at age five in hair suspending acts and in the corde lisse. Later on her life she was responsible for the costumes at Grande Circo Popular do Brasil, owned by Marcos Frota. Ruth married the lawyer and broadcaster Cid Ribeiro with whom she inaugurated Circo Fatástico. Their son, Sergio Vieira Ribeiro, is a trapezist.