Ananda Lewis Through The Years: Remembering Her Life, Legacy, Beauty, & Strength
Source: Paul Archuleta / Getty
Ananda Lewis, the beloved television host, journalist, and fierce advocate for Black women's health, has passed away following a years-long battle with stage four breast cancer. Her sister, Lakshmi, confirmed the news in a Facebook post.
Ananda was 52.
Source: Raymond Boyd / Getty
I got to know Ananda later in life, and she left a lasting impression on me. But I was not the only one.
An entire generation of Black women saw themselves reflected in Ananda—smart, grounded, stylish, and unapologetically real. She first captured hearts in the late '90s as a host of BET's Teen Summit and quickly became one of the most recognizable faces in media when she joined MTV in 1997. Hosting shows like TRL and Hot Zone , Ananda was that girl – elegant, quick-witted, and always ready when the cameras came on.
Though she joked with me once about not having grown up with cable (or seeing the shows she would later host), she became the face of some of its most iconic programming. Ananda connected with audiences nationwide and interviewed some of the biggest stars of the time – from Destiny's Child and Britney Spears to Brandy and Hillary Clinton.
In 2020, Ananda shared with the world that she had been diagnosed with breast cancer – a deeply personal revelation that became a new chapter in her legacy. She explained that she had avoided mammograms for years due to concerns about radiation exposure.
RELATED: Ananda Lewis Opens Up About Her Battle With Stage 3 Breast Cancer
But in true Ananda fashion, she didn't stay silent. Instead, she turned her story into a platform, using her voice to raise awareness and urge other Black women to prioritize their health.
Even as her cancer progressed to stage four, Ananda stayed intentional. She chose a holistic approach to care and was transparent about not undergoing a double mastectomy despite medical recommendations. She focused on removing toxins and sustaining what she defined as a high quality of life. In February 2025, she published a powerful essay in Essence , where she spoke openly about her journey and the importance of listening to your body:
'We are not meant to stay here forever,' she wrote. 'We come to this life, have experiences, and then we go. Being real about that with yourself changes how you choose to live. I don't want to spend one more minute than I have to suffering unnecessarily. That, for me, is not the quality of life I'm interested in. When it's time for me to go, I want to be able to look back at my life and say I did exactly what I wanted to.'
That quote captures the spirit of the woman so many knew and admired. Ananda lived by her own rules.
She was born in Los Angeles in 1973, attended an arts high school, and graduated from Howard University. Her career eventually landed her first big role on Teen Summit, but her influence extended beyond television.
Those who worked with her saw firsthand how dedicated she was to shifting conversations—especially around Black women's health. She made space for the truth, even when it was hard.
That's how I came to know her.
I had the opportunity to work with her as she began sharing more about her cancer journey publicly. She was passionate about getting in front of audiences that mattered—especially Black women—and making sure her story helped someone else.
She leaves behind a legacy rooted in voice, vision, and impact. And for the women who grew up watching her – and for those of us who got to learn from her, laugh with her, and work with her – today is tough.
Rest in power, Ananda.
Scroll to see pictures of Ananda through the years.
Ananda Lewis Through The Years: Remembering Her Life, Legacy, Beauty, & Strength was originally published on hellobeautiful.com Source:Getty
Ananda Lewis is serving the girls at the 1999 MTV Music Awards in NYC. Get into the black, the leather, and the body! Ananda has always been that girl. Source:Getty
Ananda Lewis worked the cameras at the 2000 Hip Hop Awards. Showing off her flat abs and melanin skin, she wore low rise purple and green pants and green fur. Source:Getty
Ananda Lewis gave the perfect night out look while attending an industrt party in 2000. She paired blue leather pants with a cut off white tank. Source:Getty
Ananda Lewis made history attending BET's first ever awards show on June 19, 2001. The rocked a red sequin dress for the occasion. Source:Getty
Ananda Lewis was not playing at the 2004 Billboard Music Awards. The personality gives another effortless slay in denim and fur. And that silver skinny belt? So '90s. Source:Getty
Ananda Lewis gave grown woman vibes at a Saks Fifth Ave benefit in 2004. We are loving her black and white halter maxi dress and simple accessories. Source:Getty
Ananda Lewis worked the People's Choice carpet in a red and gold dress that is giving us geisha vibes. She chose to pull up her naturally curly hair into a tight up do to match her regal slay. Source:Getty
Ananda Lewis attended the Miramax Films Golden Globes Awards After-Party in 2005 glittering in gold. She paired an ornate gold fitted gown with a half-up half down hair style showing off her gorgeous skin and melanin cheekbones. Source:Getty
Ananda Lewis looked stunning at the 11th annual PRISM Awards in 2007. The TV star rocked a floor length white gown with a frilly neckline, black polda dots, and an empire waist. So elegant, so pretty. Source:Getty
Ananda Lewis stepped back into the TV spotlight in 2019 after a break visiting Hallmark's 'Home & Family' at Universal Studios Hollywood. She wore a striped shirt and jeans. Ananda had an effortless beauty that was unmatched. Source:Getty
Ananda Lewis attended the 2023 ESSENCE Festival Of Culture™ looking fresh and fabulous. This was one of the starlet's last official appearancesz. For the occasion, she paired a Michael Jackson top and printed relaxed two piece set.
Black America Web Featured Video
CLOSE
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Miami Herald
4 hours ago
- Miami Herald
Less than 4% of dentists are Black. This South Florida family wants to change that
North Miami dentist Roger Phanord remembers the moment he decided to get into the field. He was 7 years old and lived with his mother in Harlem, New York. He had a toothache, but their family didn't have much money, so they visited a man who practiced dentistry in his kitchen. He went home without any pain. 'I thought that was an amazing experience,' Phanord, 63, told the Miami Herald. 'And ever since, I wanted to do dentistry.' Roger Phanord and his twin sons, Kyle and Kevin, are now practicing together at North Miami's Phanord and Associates, a dental clinic with 12,000 active patients, a number Roger says is uncommonly high for a general practice. The three men are part of a small fraction of Black dentists in America, who make up less than 4% of all dentists in the U.S. Through mentorship, the family seeks to increase that number and help diversify their industry. Roger Phanord and his family moved to South Florida in the 1980s, and he attended Miami Killian Senior High School and 'played soccer like most Haitians do.' After studying at Florida International University, he graduated from University of Florida's dental school in 1987. Finding work at a local clinic was difficult, but that changed in June 1988 when he opened his clinic on Northwest 119th Street. 'I made sure that it was a large enough facility where all the Black dentists would graduate and have a place to come in and work,' he said. Kyle and Kevin Phanord, now 31, spent much of their free time as kids at the dental clinic and worked there as assistants during the summer. After the twin brothers graduated from University of Florida's College of Dentistry in 2020, they immediately knew they wanted to join their father at the North Miami practice. 'We're able to see what our dad was able to do, and working with him is just a blessing because we get to learn a lot from him,' Kyle Phanord said. For Kevin, his close relationship with his brother made it that much easier to join their father at the clinic. The brothers were roommates in college and had the same major and similar goals. They finish each other's sentences and act in a way that shows they grew in the same womb. The Phanord brothers grew up familiar with Black professionals like their father but realized as they got older that other Black children may not have the same experience. 'My brother and I looked at it as, we could continue the legacy, and we could help the next brother and sister coming up,' Kyle Phanord said. After their graduation from dental school, the brothers began mentoring Black college students interested in dentistry and said they have since helped 20 students be accepted into top dental programs at universities like the University of Florida, Tufts and Howard. Kevin Phanord said he ran into one former mentee in a North Carolina airport and was humbled by the interaction. 'He was pre-med, then he switched to pre-dental after meeting us,' Kevin said. 'He's like, 'You guys will never know how much you changed my life. I really appreciate it.'' Mentees shadow the twins at work and also receive recommendation letters. The letters are extremely important in a competitive dental industry. 'The biggest thing I think is important is having pre-dental students shadow. So having them come and see what we do on a daily basis and see how we create treatment plans to see if that's actually the field they want to go into,' Kevin Phanord said. Roger Phanord said the passion for helping others that he passed on to his sons stems from a personal mission that supersedes dentistry. He estimates that in his nearly 40 years as a dentist, he's helped 24 dentists set up their own practices or work at his business. That was by design. 'Every doctor that ever worked with me never had a contract,' he said. 'They could open tomorrow across the street. There's not that fear of competition.' Family business For the Phanords, working alongside family is generally a positive experience but can also present unique challenges. All three Phanord men have outgoing personalities and sometimes have differing views when it comes to how they will treat patients. There are periods when they can go days at a time without speaking to each other. 'At times, it's brutal,' said Roger Phanord. 'But ultimately, our ultimate goal is what's best for the patient. So it works out because we all have the same goal.' To Roger, that means working in his clients' best interests instead of his own, advocating only for dental work that is necessary. 'I could double or triple my income on any given year or any given day if I choose to, but then you got the ethical boundaries and then you got your own personal moral boundaries,' he said. 'I'm not going to advise the patient to do anything that I wouldn't do to a family member.' A new member of the family could potentially carry on the family's dentistry legacy someday. Kyle and his wife, Chemika, a pediatric dentist, recently welcomed their daughter, Naomi, to the world. Kyle Phanord believes the exposure his daughter has to her family's work could lead to an interest in dentistry. 'I think that exposure matters and representation matters,' he said. 'She sees that Mom and Dad are both in the field. There's a high possibility that the legacy can continue.' As Roger Phanord prepared to see his next patient on a recent afternoon, he reflected on the work he's done to move his family and people like them forward. 'I don't want to be the only one that makes it. I continue to live my life that way,' he said. 'And for me, it's been nothing but blessings.'
Yahoo
6 hours ago
- Yahoo
‘Forever chemicals' exposure before birth raises the risk of high blood pressure in teenage years
'Forever chemicals' may be taking their toll on our health before we are even born, new research suggests. Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS, are a group of chemicals used in everyday products like food packaging and non-stick cookware. They're known as 'forever chemicals' because they don't degrade easily and can build up in the environment – and in our bodies. Scientists have detected PFAS in people's blood, breast milk, semen, livers, and even brains. They suspect these chemicals harm human health, with studies linking them to higher cholesterol, some cancers, and fertility problems, among other issues. The new research adds another complication to that list: high blood pressure during adolescence. Related Forever chemicals: Brussels' mission to clean up Europe's water The analysis followed more than 1,000 children in the US. It used maternal plasma collected shortly after they were born to identify their level of prenatal PFAS exposure, and matched it to doctors' records up until their 18th birthdays. Prenatal exposure to PFAS was linked to a higher risk of developing high blood pressure later in childhood, particularly in the teenage years, according to the study published in the Journal of the American Heart Association. The findings indicate that 'these forever chemicals can have long-lasting and potentially harmful effects that may only become apparent years after birth,' Zeyu Li, the study's lead author and a researcher at Johns Hopkins University in the US, said in a statement. The risk of elevated blood pressure was even higher for boys and Black children with higher PFAS levels at birth, the study found. Related How 'dangerous chemicals' detected in products in the EU could be impacting your health In a surprise to researchers, a handful of forever chemicals were actually linked to lower diastolic, or bottom number, blood pressure in early childhood, though that changed when they entered their teenage years. Evidence on the health effects of PFAS has been mixed so far. While researchers believe these chemicals pose risks, it's difficult to pinpoint their exact impact because there are thousands of PFAS that could all interact in different ways, and because people's exposure changes over time. Even so, Li said the latest study underscores the need for researchers to track people's health and their PFAS levels over a long period of time, from early childhood to adolescence and beyond. Related How to avoid 'forever chemicals': 5 items you should stop using to minimise exposure to PFAS Meanwhile, Mingyu Zhang, the study's senior author and an assistant professor at Harvard Medical School, said stronger environmental protections are needed to protect people from PFAS, given they are so ubiquitous that people cannot meaningfully limit their exposure on their own. That could include phasing out forever chemicals from consumer products and in industrial settings, he said, as well as better surveillance and limits on PFAS in water systems. 'This is not something individuals can solve on their own,' Zhang said.
Yahoo
13 hours ago
- Yahoo
Exposure to 'forever chemicals' before birth linked to higher blood pressure in kids
Per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) -- toxic chemicals found in products like nonstick pans and personal care items -- can linger in the body for up to 20 years, earning them the nickname "forever chemicals," professor and lead study author Mingyu Zhang of Harvard Medical School told ABC News. Forever chemicals have come under growing scrutiny in recent years because they build up in the body and may trigger health problems, according to a growing body of research. In this new study, Zhang and his team found that when babies were exposed in the womb to specific types of forever chemicals -- PFDeA, PFNA, and PFUnA -- they had higher systolic blood pressure (the top number in a blood pressure reading) later in life, possibly because these chemicals can cross the placenta during pregnancy and affect early development. MORE: How PFAS are entering America's water supply "PFAS exposure in the womb can affect fetal growth. There may be potential mechanisms that involve inflammation and oxidative stress that can cause PFAS' long-term health-related changes to blood pressure," Zhang said. The risk does not affect all children equally. The association was stronger for teens, boys and Black children. In boys, higher exposure to the forever chemical PFDeA was linked to a 9% greater risk of high blood pressure from ages 6 to 12, and a 17% greater risk during the teen years. Zhang cites previous studies showing that boys could be more sensitive to environmental pollutants due to slower removal rates of toxins from the body and higher rates of buildup. When it comes to the effect on older children, Zhang speculated that because PFAS stay in the body for so long, it may take longer for their effects to take hold. Children of Black mothers showed stronger links between PFAS exposure and high blood pressure, which the authors feel may reflect the combined impact of systemic racism, housing segregation and greater environmental exposure. "We know that due to historic reasons, Black and Hispanic communities face a higher burden of environmental pollutants," he says. Some of the forever chemicals -- including PFHpS, PFOS, and PFOA -- were linked to lower diastolic blood pressure in early childhood, the study found. That's the lower number in a blood pressure reading reflecting when the heart rests between beats. But as kids got older, the effect faded and may have even reversed -- these same chemicals were possibly tied to higher diastolic pressure in adolescence. MORE: EPA announces limits on some 'forever chemicals,' but just a fraction are covered Zhang said that these findings matter because children with high blood pressure are much more likely to carry it into adulthood, raising their long-term risk for heart disease, stroke, and kidney problems. Early-life blood pressure patterns can set the stage for serious health issues later on, he noted. He called for more research into the health effects of forever chemicals as well as policies that focus on reducing their use. "Meaningful change to reduce PFAS exposure in our daily life requires policy-level change on the state and federal levels," he said. "This will really help the health of children for generations to come." Dr. Adeiyewunmi (Ade) Osinubi is an emergency medicine resident physician at the University of Pennsylvania and is a member of the ABC News Medical Unit. Exposure to 'forever chemicals' before birth linked to higher blood pressure in kids originally appeared on
