Popular TV Chef Dies at 49 After Cancer Battle

Acclaimed chef and television host Elle Simone Scott passed away this week following a long battle with ovarian cancer. She was 49.

Scott died on Monday, Jan. 5, her family announced. Best known for her work on the show America's Test Kitchen, the Detroit-born culinary talent left a lasting impression in the industry.

'A friend, a force, and a trailblazer'

Scott was the first Black woman to become a regular contributor on America's Test Kitchen. Carla P. Hall, Scott's friend and fellow chef, memorialized her in a heartfelt Instagram post Wednesday.

"Chef Elle Simone Scott was a friend, a force, and a trailblazer. She showed up with excellence, generosity, and deep love for food and community," Hall wrote.

"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. She didn’t just test recipes; she changed what representation looked like in food media.

"Her voice mattered. Her work mattered. She mattered."

Hall also praised Scott for dealing with her ovarian cancer fight "With courage and honesty, using her platform to educate, advocate, and uplift even while fighting for her life."

Scott remembered for touching 'millions'

Scott did not become a chef until after losing her job and home as a social worker during the 2008 financial crisis. She then moved to New York in 2009 to begin her entry into the culinary world.

Scott founded SheChef, a culinary networking group, in 2013, and three years later, got brought onboard at America's Test Kitchen. That same year, 2016, she was diagnosed with stage 1 ovarian cancer.

"Friends and colleagues will remember Scott for her ability to create community and provide opportunities for others, both inside and outside of work," said Dan Souza, Chief Content Officer of America's Test Kitchen, in a statement to PEOPLE. "Scott brought warmth and a vibrant spirit to everything she did. 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."