LOS ANGELES, June 11, 2025 — Ananda Lewis, the former MTV VJ and talk-show host, has died at age 52. Her sister Lakshmi shared the news on Facebook on Wednesday. “She is free and in His heavenly arms,” Lakshmi wrote, alongside a black-and-white portrait and heartbroken emojis. “Lord, may her soul rest in peace.”
Rise to Fame on MTV
Lewis joined MTV in 1997. She co-hosted Total Request Live and Hot Zone. In 1999, The New York Times dubbed her “the It Girl of the hip-hop generation.” She left MTV in 2001 to launch The Ananda Lewis Show, which ran for one season.
Public Battle with Breast Cancer
In 2020, Lewis revealed a stage 3 breast cancer diagnosis on Instagram. She said she had avoided regular mammograms out of fear. In October 2024, she joined CNN’s Stephanie Elam and Sarah Sidner to discuss her choice not to have a double mastectomy. She shared that her cancer had advanced to stage 4 and had metastasized. “I decided to keep my tumor and try other methods,” she admitted. “I wish I could go back.”
Advocate for Early Detection
In January 2025, Lewis wrote for Essence that prevention is the real cure. She urged women to notice changes in their bodies. “We are not meant to be here forever,” she wrote. “When I’m gone, I want to look back and say, ‘I did exactly what I wanted.’”
Early Life and Career Beginnings
Born in Los Angeles in 1973, Lewis moved with her mother and sister to San Diego after her parents’ divorce. She attended an arts high school and later graduated from Howard University in 1995. While hosting BET’s Teen Summit, she interviewed First Lady Hillary Clinton. That role led MTV to recruit her in 1997.
Personal Growth and Legacy
Lewis reconciled with her mother in 1996 and later spoke openly about their strained relationship. After leaving MTV News in 2023, she lamented its closure as a loss to music culture. Beyond television, she hosted shows for Entertainment Tonight, A&E, and TLC. She also worked as a contractor and carpenter. In 2011, she gave birth to her son, Langston, with Harry Smith.
Ananda Lewis is survived by her son and a legacy of candid advocacy on health, culture, and personal growth.
Related topics:
- Pennsylvania Bill Advances To Expand Free Breast Cancer Tests
- Kailyn Lowry Shares Breast Reduction Journey
- Bethenny Frankel Shares Breast Augmentation Details
