Scott was the first Black woman to be a regular host of the hit PBS show.

Elle Simone Scott, chef and America’s Test Kitchen host, dies at 49

Scott was the first Black woman to be a regular host of the hit PBS show.

By Mekishana Pierre

Mekishana Pierre

Mekishana Pierre is a news writer at **. She has been working at EW since 2025. Her work has previously appeared on *Entertainment Tonight* and Popsugar.

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January 8, 2026 2:39 p.m. ET

Elle Simone Scott. Credit:

Jemal Countess/Getty

Elle Simone Scott, the first Black woman to be a regular host of the hit PBS show *America's Test Kitchen*, died Monday, after a long battle with ovarian cancer. She was 49.

The organization confirmed the news in a statement to ** on Thursday, sharing that the company's community is "mourning the passing of one of its brightest stars."

The statement added, "Scott joined *America's Test Kitchen* in 2016 and quickly became part of the fabric of the company. Friends and colleagues will remember Scott for her ability to create community and provide opportunities for others, both inside and outside of work."

Noting that Scott was a "long-time, beloved cast member" on the television show, the statement praised Scott's numerous career accomplishments, including authoring bestselling cookbooks *Boards: Stylish Spreads for Casual Gatherings* (2022) and *Food Gifts: 150+ Irresistible Recipes for Crafting Personalized Presents* (2024); co-founding SheChef Inc., an organization dedicated to mentoring young women of color pursuing careers in the culinary arts; and creating and hosting* The Walk-In *podcast.

Elle Simone Scott in 2022.

Dave Kotinsky/Getty

"Scott brought warmth and a vibrant spirit to everything she did," the statement concluded. "Her legacy will live on at *America's Test Kitchen* and in the homes and hearts of the millions of home cooks whose lives she touched."

Fellow chef and close friend Carla Hall also shared a heartfelt tribute to Scott on Instagram, calling her a force and a trailblazer.

"At *America'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," Hall captioned the post featuring a photo of Scott smiling while reading *Christmas With the Chipmunks*. "She didn't just test recipes; she changed what representation looked like in food media."

She 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."

Elle Simone Scott.

Elle Simone Scott/Instagram

Born LaShawnda Sherise Simone Scott on Nov. 28, 1976, the Detroit native got her first cooking job at a kosher bakery in Oak Park, Mich. After losing her job as a social worker in 2008, Scott found work as a cruise ship chef before leaving to study at the Culinary Institute of New York and interning at the Food Network.

Scott later worked as a food stylist for Cabot Creamery and for the cookery-themed talk show*The Chew*. She also worked in a number of different roles on cooking shows for *Cook's Country*, Food Network, Bravo, and the Cooking Channel.

But Scott is best known for her work on PBS’s *America’s Test Kitchen*, becoming the show's first Black woman to become a regular on-air presence in 2016. During her tenure, 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.

Through her work with various networks, through SheChef, and her ovarian cancer advocacy, 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 told *Food & Wine* in 2019. "There's no work if you're not leaving a legacy. Otherwise, it's self-serving, and once you're gone, it's gone."**

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