Her father is of Panamanian (Afro-Panamanian) ancestry. Tessa's maternal grandfather is of Mexican descent, and Tessa's maternal grandmother, whose parents were from Indiana, has English, German, Irish and Scottish ancestry.
Maternal granddaughter of actor and musician Bobby Ramos, one of the first Mexican-Americans to have his own television show ("Latin Cruise" for KTLA).
Daughter of singer-songwriter Marc Anthony Thompson, of the New York-based band "Chocolate Genius".
Member of the Los Angeles indie electro soul band Caught A Ghost with Jesse Nolan. The band completed their debut album "Human Nature" (2014).
Became "discovered" as a child walking down Hollywood Boulevard with her father.
Attended and graduated from Santa Monica High School in Santa Monica, California.
Attended and graduated from Santa Monica College with a degree in cultural anthropology.