The culinary world is mourning the loss of a true pioneer. Elle Simone Scott, the first Black woman to become a regular host on the acclaimed PBS series America's Test Kitchen, has died. She was 49 years old.
A Culinary Trailblazer's Journey
Scott passed away on January 5, 2026, after a long battle with ovarian cancer. She was first diagnosed with stage 1 of the disease in 2016. Her death was announced by her friend and fellow chef, Carla Hall, who paid a moving tribute on social media.
Born LaShawnda Sherise Simone Scott in Detroit on November 28, 1976, her passion for food began early. Her first job was at a kosher bakery in Oak Park, Michigan. After a career shift in 2008, she worked as a cruise ship chef before formalising her training at the Culinary Institute of New York and interning at the Food Network.
Building a Legacy in Food Media
Scott's career was marked by a series of groundbreaking roles. She worked as a food stylist for Cabot Creamery and for the talk show The Chew, and appeared on numerous networks including the Food Network, Bravo, and the Cooking Channel.
In 2013, driven by a desire to increase diversity in the culinary industry, she founded SheChef. This mentoring and networking organisation was created specifically for women of colour after Scott observed that while her culinary school classes were overwhelmingly female and people of colour, this diversity was not reflected in professional kitchens.
Her most prominent role began in 2016 when she joined America's Test Kitchen in Boston as a test cook, food stylist, and video content developer. There, she became a familiar and authoritative face to millions of viewers.
Courage, Advocacy, and Lasting Impact
In her tribute, Chef Carla Hall highlighted Scott's profound impact. "At America's Test Kitchen, Elle helped open doors that had long been closed," Hall wrote. "She didn't just test recipes; she changed what representation looked like in food media."
Hall also praised Scott's strength in facing her illness, noting she used her platform to educate and advocate for others even while fighting ovarian cancer. "Her voice mattered. Her work mattered. She mattered," Hall stated.
Elle Simone Scott is remembered not only for her culinary skill but as a force for change who inspired a generation of cooks to see themselves in a world where they were previously invisible.
