MTV VJ Ananda Lewis Dies at 52 After Cancer Battle

By Orgesta Tolaj

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12 June 2025

ananda lewis

© imanandalewis / Instagram

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Former MTV star and daytime talk-show host Ananda Lewis passed away on June 11, 2025, at age 52 after a courageous battle with stage IV breast cancer, confirmed by her sister Lakshmi via Facebook: “She’s free, and in His heavenly arms.”

From Teen Summit to MTV Icon

Lewis launched her media career at BET’s Teen Summit, discussing youth issues and even interviewing Hillary Clinton. In 1997, she became one of MTV’s most recognizable VJs, hosting Total Request Live and Hot Zone. The New York Times crowned her the “hip‑hop generation’s reigning It Girl.”

Beyond MTV: Talk Show & Television Work

Leaving MTV in 2001, Lewis hosted her syndicated daytime show, The Ananda Lewis Show, followed by a correspondent role at The Insider (2004–05). She later explored carpentry and hosted TLC’s While You Were Out in 2019.

ananda lewis
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Breast Cancer Journey & Advocacy

Diagnosed with stage III breast cancer in 2020, Lewis opted for alternative therapies and initially avoided mammograms—choices she later regretted as the cancer progressed to stage IV by 2024. She openly shared her experience on CNN and in Essence, urging women to prioritize early detection and mammograms.

Legacy of Authenticity & Impact

Her family, including son Langston and husband Harry Smith, survives her. Lewis’s openness about her health and refusal of conventional treatment sparked important conversations about cancer awareness, especially in the Black community. Her legacy blends entertainment, activism, and personal honesty.

ananda lewis
© imanandalewis / Instagram

A Voice for Representation and Empowerment

Throughout her career, Ananda Lewis was more than a media personality—she was a trailblazer for Black women in television and a strong advocate for youth, wellness, and self-empowerment. During her time at Teen Summit, she tackled issues like racial inequality, education, and mental health—topics rarely centered in teen programming at the time.

Even in her personal fight with cancer, Lewis used her platform not just to raise awareness, but to challenge health disparities that disproportionately affect women of color. Her refusal to stay silent in the face of adversity inspired many to speak up, get screened, and prioritize their well-being. Her legacy isn’t only in the shows she hosted or the celebrities she interviewed—it’s in the lives she touched by telling the truth, even when it was hard.

You might also want to read: Jenifer Lewis Thought She Was Dying After Experiencing 10-ft Fall

Orgesta Tolaj

Your favorite introvert who is buzzing around the Hive like a busy bee!

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