Elle Simone Scott has died at the age of 49.
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TMZ reported that the celebrity chef, author, and television personality died on Jan 5 after a long battle with ovarian cancer. She was perhaps best known for her appearances on the PBS program America's Test Kitchen, where she was the first Black woman to appear regularly.
Chef Carla Hall said on social media that she was "a friend, a force, and a trailblazer. She showed up with excellence, generosity, and deep love for food and community." She also shared that Scott "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."
Elle Simone Scott Started Out as a Social Worker
Born in Detroit in 1976, Scott began her professional career as a social worker. She later pivoted into the food industry, working as a line cook and garde manger for Norwegian Cruise Lines. Later, in 2010, she graduated from the Culinary Academy of New York. Then in 2013, she founded SheChef, a networking organization for women chefs of color.
She went on to work as a food stylist and producer for Food Network, Bravo, The Cooking Channel, CBS, and ABC's The Chew. Her ability to tell stories through food made her highly sought after behind and in front of the camera.
Scott's Cancer Diagnosis Came in 2016
In 2016, after moving to Boston to begin work on America's Test Kitchen, Scott was diagnosed with ovarian cancer. She began sharing her experiences to raise awareness of the disease.
"I wanted to be a face for survivorship for Black women in ovarian cancer, or women of color in general," she told the Ovarian Cancer Research Alliance in 2020.
Scott was also an author, writing Boards: Stylish Spreads for Casual Gatherings in 2022 and Food Gifts: 150+ Irresistible Recipes for Crafting Personalized Presents in 2024.
"I don't know if I really knew that I was destined for something great, she said. "But I have always loved food."
She added, "I'd do anything for food. I'd travel for food. I'd spend my last money on a good meal. 'Will work for food'... that sign was meant for me."
