Chef Elle Simone Scott, the television personality who featured on PBS's popular cooking show "America's Test Kitchen," has died at age 49 following a battle with ovarian cancer.
"Chef Elle Simone Scott was a friend, a force, and a trailblazer," Hall said. "She showed up with excellence, generosity, and deep love for food and community."
Following her diagnosis, Scott made the decision to use her growing platform to raise awareness about ovarian cancer while continuing her work on TV. During her 2019 interview, she promised herself that if she survived, she would "commit my life's work to bringing awareness to this disease and to fight for detection, a cure."
"Elle faced ovarian cancer with courage and honesty, using her platform to educate, advocate, and uplift even while fighting for her life," Hall said in her tribute. "That kind of strength leaves a mark."
According to the Boston Globe, she initially worked as a social worker for seven years after earning a degree in human services from Eastern Michigan University. After her social services agency lost funding, she cooked for Norwegian Cruise Line before attending the Culinary Academy of New York in 2009.
Throughout her career, Scott worked for Food Network, CBS, and Bravo before landing her breakthrough role at "America's Test Kitchen," which attracts more than 10 million viewers monthly.
Jack Bishop, chief creative officer at "America's Test Kitchen," told the Boston Globe in 2018 that Scott brought "a different perspective to everything that we do on television," praising her playfulness and authenticity on camera.