Molly Qerim’s First Take replacement Shae Cornette keeps fashion spotlight alive with glamorous black dress moment

Molly Qerim’s absence from the daily sports debate left a noticeable silence on television, but it also created space for curiosity. Fans were not only wondering where her career would head next, they were also watching closely to see who could step into a role that mixed sharp moderation with undeniable style.

“First Take” has always been more than arguments and hot takes. It is also a visual stage, and fashion has quietly become part of its identity.With Qerim stepping away after contract talks took a dramatic turn, ESPN turned to Shae Cornette. Filling that seat meant handling pressure from day one. It meant holding your own next to Stephen A. Smith. It also meant knowing that every outfit would be compared, dissected, and debated online.

Cornette has handled that spotlight with patience, easing into the role while letting her personality grow naturally.

Molly Qerim has finally resurfaced, and so the fashion battle is always on our minds any time her "First Take" replacement flexes a fantastic fit

Cornette recently reminded viewers that style still matters on the set. In an Instagram carousel captioned “The last few weeks ✨,” she opened with a mirror selfie in a sleeveless black dress. The look was simple, confident, and intentional. It did not scream for attention, but it made its point. Before diving into family moments, she quietly established that she has a fashion voice of her own.

Meanwhile, Qerim has begun to reappear in her own way. After keeping a low profile, aside from a thoughtful fireside chat at UConn with Dan Hurley, she returned to Instagram with glimpses of an Abu Dhabi trip for the season-ending Formula 1 race. The posts feel calculated and calm, signaling a shift toward influence and personal branding rather than studio debate.The contrast between the two women feels less like competition and more like evolution.

Cornette, now 39, is growing comfortable in the chair, balancing television demands with life as a mother of three. Her recent photos leaned into that reality, celebrating her children while still carving out space for style.Qerim’s exit from ESPN was controversial, but it also freed her to redefine success on her own terms. With familiar faces like Elle Duncan moving on to new platforms, the sports media world is clearly changing. What remains constant is this. Whether on camera or online, presence still matters. And right now, both women are finding fresh ways to command it.Also Read: Matthew Stafford’s MVP push with the Rams could silence critics and fast-track his Hall of Fame destiny