She was born in Manila, Philippines, yet has spent a large portion of her life practicing in the United States.
Unable to find a closer school to her aunt and misunderstanding the country's geography, she enrolled at the California College of Arts and Crafts (now CCA), and moved to San Francisco in 1979.
[8] While visiting her aunt in Michigan in December 1979, she stopped by Cranbrook Academy of Art to show Katherine McCoy her portfolio.
Here, she was exposed to the work of several notable designers such as Eliel and Eero Saarinen, and Charles and Ray Eames.
For many students, it made their work fall under a distinct 'Cranbrook signature', but it equipped Tenazas with intellectual rigor and the ability to push the boundaries of her content.
[8] In 1985, Tenazas moved to San Francisco for a faculty position at the California College of Arts and Crafts where she would continue to work for 20 years.
This process of self-discovery is evident in the program's interdisciplinary focus which brings together theory and practice to develop the individual's personal voice in design.
[10] Tenazas spent many years working with the American Institute of Graphic Arts (AIGA), starting as an event organizer for the San Francisco chapter, and then later becoming a member of the national board.