She began modelling at age 22, before becoming a television presenter for the Portuguese youth television show Sic Altamente, on channel SIC. She made her acting debut in the Portuguese telenovelaSaber Amar, which aired on the Portuguese television station TVI. She continued her telenovela appearances for the station.
In 2009, Pereira starred as Mel Fontes in Meu Amor alongside Rodrigo Menezes, which won the 2010 International Emmy Award for the Best telenovela. Meu Amor was the first Portuguese telenovela to win an Emmy.[2] She used to present the Portuguese singing contest Canta Comigo and in 2011, was Helena Borges in the telenovela Remédio Santo on TVI. In 2013, she was Fernanda Moreira in the telenovela Destinos Cruzados on TVI.[2] She was a contestant on season 1 of Portuguese Dancing with the Stars, paired with Pedro Borralho. In 2015 and 2016, Rita was judge on Pequenos Gigantes, a Portuguese talent-show.
In 2015 and 2016 she played Luena da Silva in A Única Mulher and in 2017 she was Madalena Alvarenga in A Herdeira. Both A Única Mulher and A Herdeira were the most watched telenovelas in Portugal in the time they aired.
