Ananda Lewis helped define the MTV VJ at the turn of the millennium
Music is a natural subject for people talking about it to bring their whole self into the mix, and Lewis did just that during her four-year MTV run: Early on in her tenure, she praised Queen of the Blues Dinah Washington en route to introducing the video for Snoop Dogg's 'Gin and Juice.' During a 2001 tribute to the late singer Aaliyah, she took time out from the script to give her own elegy to her friend and peer. She also had journalistic chops that MTV (and, before that, BET) let her flaunt, hosting 'True Life: I Am Driving While Black' and shows that dealt with the aftermath of the Columbine High School shooting.
'Ananda is Cleopatra. You know she's a queen,' Prince told the
Advertisement
'Giving them the space to talk to people who would honor and respect who they were, especially brown people at the time, was really special,' she said in 2020. Three years later, Paramount Global shut down MTV's news division, and Lewis
Lewis, who was born in Los Angeles in 1973 and grew up in San Diego, had her own talk show from 2001 to 2002 and hosted the celebrity news show 'The Insider' before stepping away from the entertainment world and becoming a carpenter in the 2010s. The short-lived 2019 reboot of 'While You Were Out' brought her two career trajectories together, and in recent years she'd popped up on documentaries that covered her era of MTV. She had been diagnosed with breast cancer in the late 2010s, and during a 2024 CNN roundtable, she revealed that it had progressed to Stage IV. Lewis died on June 11 at her home in Los Angeles, where she was in hospice care.
Advertisement
'MTV was like going to an amusement park and having the FastPass to every ride, and you were on the ride with your favorite people every single time,' Lewis told Check the Rhymes TV. During the channel's reign as America's chief arbiter of pop music, Lewis and other standout VJs brought millions of viewers along for each trip with knowledge and enthusiasm.
Maura Johnston is a writer and professor living in Allston. She can be reached at
.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
New York Post
2 hours ago
- New York Post
‘16 and Pregnant' star Whitney Purvis denied entry to son Weston's funeral after showing up late: report
'16 and Pregnant' star Whitney Purvis was denied entry to her son Weston's funeral after she arrived late, only to find out that she was not put on the guest list, according to a report. The former reality star's eldest child died at age 16 on June 2 in Gordon County, Georgia. An official cause of death remains unknown. Two weeks after confirming his death, Purvis had arrived at Weston's funeral at 4 p.m., having been told that was the scheduled start time. Advertisement 4 '16 and Pregnant' star Whitney Purvis was denied entry to her son Weston's funeral after she arrived late, only to find out that she was not put on the guest list, according to a report. Whitney Purvis/Instagram However, she was turned away at the door when it became clear the ceremony had taken place two hours prior — and her name wasn't even on the guest list, TMZ reports. Sources close to Purvis blame her ex-husband Weston Lewis Gosa for the mix-up, though he strongly disputes her version of events. Advertisement Instead, Gosa insists he told his ex — with whom he also shares 11-year-old son River — the correct start time, and claims she turned up at 4:15 p.m., by which point the chapel doors were locked. Insiders claim that once Purvis, who appeared on the MTV show in 2009, arrived to lay her son to rest, she was told that the service was over. 4 Weston died at age 16 on June 2 in Gordon County, Georgia. An official cause of death remains unknown. They alleged that Purvis' side of the family was also denied access to the service. Advertisement Gosa, for his part, insists that he told Purvis that the viewing started at 2 p.m., with the service commencing at 4 p.m. sharp. He told the outlet that he called his ex a week in advance to let her know about the strict guest list, and further asserted that her mother, aunt and uncle were all in attendance as they arrived at 3 p.m. Just after 5 p.m., Gosa claimed he received angry text messaged from Purvis. In one text, he claims she had called him 'evil' for barring her from their son's memorial service. 4 Purvis shared the teen with ex-husband Weston Lewis Gosa. Weston Gosa / Facebook Advertisement He further alleged that after Purvis claimed she had not been put on the guest list, he responded with a photo of her name being on there. The services for Weston were held in private 'due to the nature and circumstances of this tragic loss.' Gosa and his current wife, Amy, have purchased a separate urn for Whitney to house some of her son's ashes. Earlier this month, Purvis confirmed her son's death in a heartbreaking post on social media. 4 Purvis and Gosa had welcomed Weston during their time on the MTV show in 2009. Teen Mom UK / YouTube 'This is so hard to write. My beautiful son, Weston has passed away. He was only 16 years old. Life is so cruel and unfair. I just don't understand,' she wrote on Facebook. 'Oh my baby is gone and I don't know what to do with myself. He was so perfect. This is really my worst nightmare come true.' Start your day with all you need to know Morning Report delivers the latest news, videos, photos and more. Thanks for signing up! Enter your email address Please provide a valid email address. By clicking above you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Never miss a story. Check out more newsletters Advertisement Purvis had welcomed Weston with Gosa during the first season of MTV's '16 and Pregnant' in April 2009. She went on to welcome River in 2014, however the couple had split shortly after. The reality star went on to lose custody of both her children to their father after she was arrested in 2024 for failing to make child support payments, TMZ reported. Weston Sr., for his part, had several run-ins with the law — including arrests for driving on a suspended license and smashing electronics.
Los Angeles Times
2 hours ago
- Los Angeles Times
What to wear this summer and the best L.A. vintage finds, according to stylist Bin X. Nguyen
Bin X. Nguyen came of age in the mid-2000s at the height of celebrity paparazzi culture, watching MTV, poring over Teen Vogue, and following icons like Paris Hilton and Nicole Richie from his bedroom in the suburbs of San Jose. 'Escaping the mundane life of suburbia was really what influenced my childhood,' Nguyen says. 'When I was 8 or 9, watching 'America's Next Top Model' with the icon that is Tyra Banks and watching 'Project Runway,' I was really inspired by fashion. You saw how glamorous and unglamorous fashion is, and somehow this world was so enticing to me.' 'The Devil Wears Prada' came out when Nguyen was a teen, which he describes as the 'catalyst' for his time as a fashion and culture writer at his college newspaper, and later, Santa Barbara Magazine. While he was there, he met stylists on the cover shoots. Between witnessing their creativity in real time and consuming media like 'The Rachel Zoe Project,' Nguyen decided to move to Los Angeles and begin his career as a professional wardrobe stylist. These days, Nguyen is known for styling everyone's favorite musicians, from Katseye to Role Model to Phoebe Bridgers, with plenty of actors in between — think Lana Condor, Jonathan Davis, Laysla De Oliveira and Alexandra Shipp. He stresses the importance of cultivating a sense of identity through style: 'I just want to create beautiful work that inspires people. At the end of the day, I want to make lasting images that people will reference.' He often pulls from his Vietnamese heritage, drawing from the layering of an áo dài while working. 'Referencing old Vietnamese photos of the '70s and '60s is really important to bring my culture to the forefront of fashion,' Nguyen says. 'Having little touches that speak to you, whether it be your jewelry or your hat or your scarves, all these things are important to you as a special, dynamic being.' Nguyen jokes that his personal style doesn't always give L.A. 'It's L.A., we live in athleisure. Don't get me wrong, when I do returns, I'm in athleisure. But when I go out, it's important to serve a look,' Nguyen says. 'You want to serve, as the girls say, c—. That's a part of L.A. that's very niche. L.A. people will go out in like jeans and a T-shirt, whereas I'm in vintage designer clothes and a 4-inch heel, you know?' My most memorable shoot was with an NBA player named Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. We shot in a hotel room super quick. I love a pop girl and an athlete — I think my dream clients are both. I just want to show off body and skin, and I want them to look ultra-cool. One shoot I'm most proud of is with Katseye for the cover of Teen Vogue. It's so special to work with a group of diverse girls, and they're so unique and talented. The aesthetic was the early 2000s, beachy, young, fresh, like Abercrombie. That's something that I grew up seeing all the time, like the models on the Abercrombie bags and going to Hollister and seeing their design. So they wanted to build that into this 2025 version of it, but diverse and cool. I think we definitely accomplished that. It was also a full circle moment for me because when I was 15 and 16, Teen Vogue was the magazine that I subscribed to. I would collect the copies every month and there's still a stack of them in my closet, so it's very exciting to have that moment now. A moment where I felt like I made it was getting to go to Pharrell's first runway show for Louis Vuitton. There was a choir that came out and sang this amazing song and Rihanna and ASAP Rocky were sitting across from me. Tears just started falling from my eyes, and I was like, this is part of the dream that I had of being a part of this life. Just to be welcomed into this space feels so crazy to me. Some of my dream people to work with are photographers like Steven Meisel and Inez & Vinoodh. I would love to make beautiful images with Nick Knight. In terms of celebrities, Zoë Kravitz, Bella Hadid, Nicole Kidman — but at the same time, I want to work with new talent like Tyla and Chappell Roan. They all have a sense of identity. I think it's so important to have your own style and your own personal creative ideas of what you want to look like. Those girls have really honed in and cultivated their identity. And when you look at something, especially if you look at a dress or a piece of art, and you associate that art or that garment with that girl. I want to create that with my own client one day. Three words to describe my own day-to-day style are sensuality, preppy and edgy. I love American sportswear. Ralph Lauren's a huge influence of mine, but there's always an edge to it. There's like a little secret that's elevated, and you are only going to know when they want to tell you. There's a mystery. An ideal day in L.A. is taking an hour to do a yoga class or go walk in the park. I hike once a week for two hours. I love my job, but it's also very important to take care of your mental health and be in nature and find gratitude. There's one called the Vermont Canyon Tennis Courts hike and you go all the way to Dante's Peak. As an Aries, my personal style is ever-changing because my personality is so spontaneous. You just want to do things all the time. You never stop. If you meet an Aries, they're like, 'Let's go here, let's do this, let's go there.' I think that plays into a lot of my work and my clothes. I'm always thinking, what can be different in terms of this image? My emotional support clothing item is a 4-inch boot. I'm not the tallest person — and when I wear my boots I'm still not the tallest person — but it brings in a feeling of confidence where I can stomp somewhere. Sometimes that's all you need, and it changes your posture, and you just feel like you can take anything down. If I was a cocktail, I would be a St. Germain Spritz. It's called a Hugo Spritz, but the core of it is St. Germain, Prosecco and club soda, and on a summer day with mint and lemon … It's so yummy. I wish I had some in my fridge. It is the most refreshing drink. And I'm anti-Aperol. It's all about Hugo, like you have to experience the Hugo Spritz. Your life will change. This summer, everyone will be wearing longer-length shorts. More people are wearing board shorts now, it's not above the knee anymore. And baby tees and Havaianas flip-flops. If last summer was brat summer, this summer is where I'm going to be really stupid for the last time. It's from personal experience. This is the last summer of my 20s. I just feel like I can get away with certain things in my 20s before I turn 30, so this summer is going to be crazy and stupid for me. When I turn 30 in April, it's going to be smart spring, like business savvy, strategically everything. But this summer is going to give, let's puke. Let's drink a s— ton of alcohol and puke, because I have one summer left to do that. The best vintage finds are at the Long Beach Antique Market. On the third Sunday of the month, there's this lady named Veronica. You will find the most incredible vintage. The look that I wore to the Vuitton show was from her vintage stall. And I love the Goodwill on San Fernando in Atwater Village where you buy by the pound. You literally have to come in with gloves and your headphones because it's such an intense experience, but it's so cheap and I have found gems from that Goodwill. It's so unserious for people to be like, 'Fashion is everything, fashion is my life.' Fashion is a major cause of global warming, and it can create a lot of damage in the world. It's not brain surgery, but you'll meet people that make it feel like brain surgery and that's when it's not fun anymore. I just want to have fun and create beautiful images. Something I wish people knew about the fashion and styling industry is that 75% is hard work and schlepping, you're carrying things all day, every day. It's a lot of logistics. But 25% is glamorous. There are moments where you're like, 'Wow, these spaces that I'm in are actually insane, and I'm so grateful to be here.' But the 75% is not fun or pretty. A lot of people don't know that when they get in, and they run from it really quickly. I do it because I love it and I'm inspired by it. It's something I've wanted to do my entire life, and I can attest to it with the amount of Teen Vogues in my closet in my childhood bedroom.
Yahoo
3 hours ago
- Yahoo
Sandra Lee Mourns Death of Food Network's Anne Burrell: ‘Larger Than Life'
Sandra Lee is paying tribute to Anne Burrell after her death at age 55. 'Anne Burrell was smart. She was sweet. She was funny. She was larger than life. She lived it completely, unabashedly and uniquely,' Lee said in a statement to Us Weekly. 'I'll never forget the first time I met her in a casino in Atlantic City, she boldly approached me, introducing herself with her girl gang — she was so endearing, so so funny and delightful.' The statement continued, 'Anne was one of a kind. May she rest in glory — another culinary royalty in heaven guiding all of our recipes now. Love u always Anne — Sandy!' News broke on Tuesday, June 17, that the Worst Cooks in America host died in her Brooklyn home. Celebrity Deaths of 2025: Anne Burrell, Kim Woodburn and More Stars We've Lost This Year 'Anne was a beloved wife, sister, daughter, stepmother, and friend — her smile lit up every room she entered,' her family said in a statement obtained by People. 'Anne's light radiated far beyond those she knew, touching millions across the world. Though she is no longer with us, her warmth, spirit, and boundless love remain eternal.' Burrell's cause of death has yet to be revealed. She is survived by her mother, Marlene, and sister, Jane, along with husband Stuart Claxton and his son, Javier. Days before her death, Burrell shared a series of photos celebrating Elizabeth Falkner's event at Soho House in New York City. 'A delicious and delightful evening last night @sohohouse for @cheffalkner 's 'One Night Only' dinner,' she wrote via Instagram on Thursday, June 12. 'SUUUUUUPER yummy with a great group of people. Thank you Chef for the invite and deliciousness!! #theclaxtons #ilovewhatido #luckygirl.' Most Shocking Celebrity Deaths of All Time Burrell rose to fame on Food Network when she was introduced as a sous chef on Iron Chef America. She then starred in Secrets of a Restaurant Chef, which premiered in 2008 and was on air for nine seasons. She has since appeared on Chopped, Chef Wanted, Food Network Star and competition series House of Knives, which premiered in March. While balancing her culinary career, Burrell met Claxton on Bumble in 2018. Claxton recalled not knowing that he had matched with a Food Network star. 'It was a wonderful surprise,' he told Today in 2020. 'You know, on social, the photos are never as good as the real thing. When she sat down in front of me, I was like, 'Wow, she's so hot.'' Burrell, meanwhile, admitted she didn't see a wedding in her future before meeting Claxton. "I mean, I am 50. It didn't seem it would be in the cards for me," Burrell said. "I had always been so focused on my career. [Marriage] wasn't something I thought of."
