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NEED TO KNOW
Chef and food stylist Elle Simone Scott died at the age of 49 after a long battle with ovarian cancer
She is beloved in the culinary community as a trailblazer, as the first Black to join the cast of PBS cooking show 'America's Test Kitchen'
Scott is remembered for her advocacy and being a voice for marginalized communities
Boston chef, food stylist and television host Elle Simone Scott has died after a long battle with ovarian cancer,America's Test Kitchenconfirmed in a statement to PEOPLE. She was 49.
Fellow chef and close friend Carla Hall wrote a touching tribute to Scott onInstagram, calling her a force and a trailblazer.
"AtAmerica's Test Kitchen, Elle helped open doors that had long been closed—becoming one of the first Black women audiences saw in the test kitchen, and doing so with grace, authority, and joy," the post read. "She didn't just test recipes; she changed what representation looked like in food media."
Elle Simone Scott/Instagram
Hall continued, "Her voice mattered. Her work mattered. She mattered. Elle faced ovarian cancer with courage and honesty, using her platform to educate, advocate, and uplift even while fighting for her life. That kind of strength leaves a mark."
Dan Souza, Chief Content Officer ofAmerica's Test Kitchen, shared the company's "deep sadness" and honored Scott as a major "part of the fabric of the company" in a statement shared with PEOPLE.
"Friends and colleagues will remember Scott for her ability to create community and provide opportunities for others, both inside and outside of work," stated Souza. "Scott brought warmth and a vibrant spirit to everything she did. Her legacy will live on atAmerica's Test Kitchenand in the homes and hearts of the millions of home cooks whose lives she touched."
The company goes on to praise Scott's career accomplishments, including authoring bestselling cookbooksBoards: Stylish Spreads for Casual Gatherings(2022) andFood Gifts: 150+ Irresistible Recipes for Crafting Personalized Presents(2024) and creating and hostingThe Walk-Inpodcast.
Scott, born LaShawnda Sherise Simone Scott, was best known for her work on PBS'sAmerica's Test Kitchen, which she joined in 2016 as the show's first Black woman to become a regular on-air presence. Over the years, she took on multiple roles at the brand, including test cook, host and executive editor, becoming one of the most visible and influential voices in food media.
According toWBUR, Scott often credited her great-grandmother Ann, an accomplished cook, with shaping her understanding of food as both emotional and political. "I know that it was not just an experience of putting food on the table for her but it was emotional and political," Scott said in a 2020 interview withWBUR.
Elle Simone Scott/Instagram
Before pursuing her culinary career, Scott worked as a social worker until the 2008 recession, when she lost both her job and her home. The experience led her to reassess her future. "The thought occurred to me, if I have to do something for the next 25 years of my life, it better be something I love," Scott said ina 2019 interview. "The only thing I could think of was cooking. It was the one thing that brought me peace and joy."
Scott moved to New York City and attended the Culinary Institute of New York in 2009, and later interned at the Food Network. She then went on to produce content for outlets including Bravo and the Cooking Channel.
In 2013, Scott foundedSheChef, a culinary networking group designed to support underrepresented voices in the industry. She was also a passionate advocate for food access, particularly in Black and brown communities. A former recipient ofSNAP benefits, she spoke openly about the importance of nutrition assistance and school lunch programs.
Shortly after moving to Boston to work atAmerica's Test Kitchenin 2016, Scott was diagnosed with stage 1 ovarian cancer. She became an outspoken cancer advocate, sharing her symptoms and experiences publicly and describing herself not as a "survivor" but a "thriver." She later went into remission before the cancer returned.
Carla Hall/Instagram
"Having cancer, or just having a terminal disease in general, really makes you think about your life and how you want to live it for whatever time you have left," Scott shared with WBUR. "I promised the Creator that if I survived cancer, I would utilize the rest of my life to make a change and be impactful."
Through her work, Scott said her goal was always legacy. "No more Black and brown girls — or any girls of color — will have to search for an image that makes them feel encouraged toward their cooking or TV dreams," she toldFood & Wine. "There's no work if you're not leaving a legacy. Otherwise, it's self-serving, and once you're gone, it's gone."
Read the original article onPeople
