French ski racer Tessa Worley was born in Annemasse, in the département of Haute-Savoie. Her father Steve is Australian and her mother Mad is French. She grew up skiing year-round, in France and New Zealand. Her home ski area is the resort of Le Grand-Bornand. 

Worley made her World Cup debut at age 16 on February 4, 2006, and finished in 29th place in a giant slalom race in Ofterschwang, Germany. In 2008 she won her first World Cup race (and first podium) in a GS at Aspen, Colorado, USA.

Early in the 2011 season, Worley won three consecutive GS races before January. She then won a gold medal in the nations team event at the 2011 World Championships in Garmisch, Germany, where she was the bronze medalist in the giant slalom.