"MEET AMERICA'S ONLY FEMALE SPORTS REPORTER WHO USES A WHEELCHAIR"

 

Maria Serrao is a groundbreaker. In 1989, she became the first woman in a wheelchair to compete in a Miss California Beauty Pageant. Later, Maria created her own cable fitness show called, "Everyone Can Exercise". In addition she created a line of fitness video's called, "Real Life Fitness".This came from her own desperate need to find a work out she could do sitting down. After working with a personal trainer Maria created a work out and lost 50 pounds, sitting down. Maria became the National Spokesperson for CYBEX fitness equipment. During that time she traveled through the United States and Canada promoting sports and fitness.Maria appeared on such shows as "Good Morning America" and "Entertainment Tonight". Maria also worked as an actress starring in such shows as "21 Jumpstreet" and "Prison Break". 

 

From there, Maria was approached by a local television station COX-TV to become the sports anchor/reporter for thier newly launched channel KCOX3 in Los Angeles. In additon, Maria hosted a live weekly sports show with former NFL great Jerry Robinson. It was here Maria began covering the Los Angeles Dodgers, Angels, Lakers, Clippers, Kings, San Diego Chargers, Oakland Raiders, INDYCAR and NASCAR races. 

 

Maria was the victim of a drunk driver at the age of 5 that left her partially paralyzed. She has never allowed her disability to prevent her from attaining anything in her life. Not even working as the only wheelchair bound sports reporter in the number two market in the country. Currently Maria works at RPV-TV in the South Bay of Los Angeles. Here Maria produces, hosts and reports on her own weekly sports show called "Playing The Field" where she features the biggest names in sports. From Derek Jeter to Kobe Bryant from MLB All Star to the Staley Cup Finals, Maria travels the country for stories. 

 

Playing The Field" airs through out Southern California and NOW on line at PLAYINGTHEFIELDTV.COM