Elle Simone facts for kids

Elle Simone, also known as Elle Simone Scott, is a talented American chef, food stylist, and TV producer. She's also the founder of SheChef, an organization that helps women of color in the cooking world.

Elle Simone's Early Life and Education

Elle Simone was born LaShawnda Sherise Simone Scott. She grew up in Detroit, Michigan, in a middle-class family who followed the Seventh-day Adventist faith. She went to Eastern Michigan University. Her very first cooking job was at a kosher bakery in Oak Park, Michigan. A kosher bakery prepares food according to Jewish dietary laws.

Before she became a chef, Elle worked as a social worker in Detroit, helping people in need. She also worked extra hours as a prep cook, getting food ready in kitchens. Later, she studied at the Culinary Institute of New York. She even has a master's degree in entertainment business.

Elle Simone's Culinary Journey

When Elle Simone was 28, she faced a tough time. She lost her job as a social worker, her car, and her home during the 2008 recession. This was a time when many people lost jobs and money.

After that, she took a job as a cook on a cruise ship for two years. In 2009, she moved to New York. There, she worked at a women's shelter, helping women who needed a safe place to stay. In 2010, she went to culinary school to become a professional chef.

She completed an internship with Food Network, a popular TV channel about cooking. She then worked as a food stylist for Cabot Creamery and The Chew. A food stylist makes food look amazing for photos or TV shows. She also worked in culinary production for shows like Cook's Country, Food Network, Bravo, and Cooking Channel. This means she helped create and organize the cooking segments for these shows.

In 2016, Elle Simone made history. She became the first African American woman to be a regular host on the PBS television show America's Test Kitchen. On the show, she is a test cook and a food stylist. She also creates videos for the show's online cooking school, teaching people how to cook.

In 2018, she was featured on NBC's The Hub Today. In 2019, she hosted 28 Days of Edna, a special America's Test Kitchen series. This series focused on the famous chef Edna Lewis.

Elle Simone is also a member of the board for Women Chefs and Restaurateurs. This group supports women in the food industry. She has shared that she hopes to become the "culinary Oprah," meaning she wants to inspire and help many people through food.

Helping Others: SheChef

In 2013, Elle Simone started SheChef. This organization helps women of color in the cooking world by offering mentoring and networking. Mentoring means experienced people guide newer ones, and networking means connecting with others in the same field.

She started SheChef because she noticed something important. Even though many of her culinary school classmates were women or people of color, not many of them became famous chefs. By November 2018, SheChef had grown to include over 1000 members!

Elle Simone's Personal Life

Elle Simone is a survivor of ovarian cancer. She was diagnosed with this illness in 2016 when she was 40 years old.