FORMER MTV VJ ANANDA LEWIS DIES AT 52 AFTER BATTLING BREAST CANCER

Ananda Lewis, a former MTV video jockey (VJ) and television talk show host, has died at the age of 52. Her sister, Lakshmi Lewis, confirmed her death in a Facebook post on June 11, 2025.

In the post, Lakshmi wrote, “She’s free, and in His heavenly arms,” accompanied by broken heart emojis and a black-and-white photograph of Ananda Lewis.

Ananda Lewis had been battling breast cancer since 2020. She went public with her diagnosis later that year and revealed that the illness had progressed to stage IV. In previous interviews, she shared that she had initially declined a double mastectomy and later expressed regret for not undergoing regular mammograms. She used her experience to advocate for early detection and breast cancer awareness.

Born in Los Angeles in 1973, Lewis was raised in San Diego by her mother and grandmother after her parents divorced. She graduated from Howard University in 1995 with a degree in history and began her media career as the host of BET’s Teen Summit. She gained national recognition in 1997 when she joined MTV, where she became known for hosting programs such as Total Request Live and Hot Zone.

In 2001, she left MTV to host The Ananda Lewis Show, a syndicated daytime talk show that aired for one season. Lewis later appeared on various television programs, including The Insider, Celebrity Mole: Yucatán, and While You Were Out. In addition to her work in media, she also worked as a carpenter and general contractor.

Lewis is survived by her son, Langston, born in 2011. She is remembered for her contributions to youth media, her openness about health challenges, and her advocacy for cancer awareness and prevention.