Former MTV VJ Ananda Lewis passed away on Wednesday, June 11th. Her sister, Lakshmi, posted on Facebook, stating she had died from metastatic breast cancer. Ananda was primarily known for hosting the popular MTV show, Total Request Live, and having her own talk show. She was a fierce advocate for black youth and women of color. Later in life, she was outspoken regarding breast cancer prevention.
A Look at Ananda Lewis’s Career
Born in San Diego in March 1973, Ananda loved dancing. In 1981, she earned the title of Little Miss San Diego, a citywide talent contest. For college, she enrolled at Howard University in Washington DC and graduated cum laude. While at Howard, she volunteered with the Youth at Risk program through the Youth Leadership Institute.
In the late 90s, Ananda was a VJ (video jockey) on MTV’s Total Request Live. The bubbly, charismatic host was loved by millions, bringing a fresh outlook and upbeat vibe to the show. Later, she decided to start her own talk show. The Ananda Lewis Show, modeled after Oprah Winfrey‘s talk show, tackled both challenging and human interest topics.
In the latter part of her career, Ananda bravely revealed her diagnosis of stage three breast cancer. She paired up with Sarah Sidner and Stephanie Elam, both college mates from Howard University, to do a cancer talk panel on CNN.
Ananda Lewis’s Battle with Cancer
Ananda was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2018. She had publicly stated that she was not a fan of mammograms, citing radiation concerns. She found a lump during a self-exam and immediately went to the doctor. She then declined a double mastectomy, saying that she believed in her body’s strength to fight off the tumor. Regarding her chosen course of treatment, she stated:
My plan at first was to get out excessive toxins in my body. I felt like my body is intelligent, I know that to be true. Our bodies are brilliantly made.. I decided to keep my tumor and try to work it out of my body a different way. . . . I wish I could go back. It’s important for me to admit where I went wrong with this.
Lewis later stated there were things that she could’ve done differently, but at the same time, she did not want to suffer through harsh cancer treatment unnecessarily.
Ananda Lewis’s Legacy – Beyond MTV
Known widely as the “it-girl” for hip-hop and rap, Ananda’s late 90s stardom translated easily to the early 2000s. She was the host of TV’s Insider and worked with America’s Top Dog. Shining a light on the numerous benefits of animal rescue. She had two rescued pet Chihuahuas. Ananda is survived by her sister and son, Langston.
