 She then began singing professionally in local night clubs starting in 1983, but soon moved to Aruba where, for 2½ years, she performed in a nightly jazz show named "Sentimental Journey Through Jazz", much of its material; in the style of Ella Fitzgerald and other notable divas.Rivas became a leading voice in the region's environmental movement, and her musical message as a composer often had ecological undertones.In 2005 Rivas returned to Aruba to be part of the show "God Save The Queen", a tribute to the rock band Queen.