Who was Ananda Lewis? Know about the Former MTV VJ who died due to stage 4 breast cancer at 52

Time of India

12-06-2025

Know about Ananda Lewis: Following a protracted fight with stage IV breast cancer, Ananda Lewis, the pioneering MTV VJ turned talk show host, passed away at the age of 52. Her passing has reignited discussions about the significance of screening and the dangers of delaying treatment.
After receiving her diagnosis in 2020, Lewis publicly expressed her remorse about postponing mammograms because she was afraid of radiation and selecting alternative therapies.
Known for her lively singing on songs like "Total Request Live" in the late 1990s, she went on to host her show, gain recognition as a social activist, and even pursue a career in carpentry. Her son and a strong legacy of charm, integrity, and fortitude that transcends entertainment are left behind by her passing, which was confirmed by her sister Lakshmi.
Who was Ananda Lewis?
She was an MTV VJ | Credit: X
Ananda Lewis was an American television broadcaster, carpenter, former model, and social crusader who lived from March 21, 1973, to June 11, 2025 . From the late 1990s until 2001, she was an MTV veejay.
She then left the network to host The Ananda Lewis Show, a syndicated television chat show. From 2004 to 2005, she worked as a correspondent for The Insider. She later pursued a career in carpentry.
She was the host of TLC's 2019 While You Were Out revival. Lewis told her Instagram followers on October 1, 2020, that she has been fighting stage 3 breast cancer for the last two years.
Ananda Lewis's education qualification
Lewis had a strong artistic background, having spent nine years at the San Diego School of Creative and Performing Arts studying dance, theater, music, and photography. Later, while attending Howard University, she mentored at-risk youths and got involved in youth activism through the Youth Leadership and Development Institute (YLDI).
She tried out for BET's "Teen Summit," a youth-focused program that tackles important issues in the Black community because she was passionate about making a positive social impact. She interviewed prominent people, including Hillary Clinton and Kobe Bryant, while hosting the show for three seasons.
In a 2022 interview with BET, she talked about her desire to try out, recalling, "The kids in my program were like, 'you always tell us life comes opportunities and it's your responsibility to step up. You're not going to now? I'm glad I went and paid attention.
Also Read: Who was Tijana Radonjic? A model who died due to panic attack while Parasailing in Adriatic Sea in Budva
Ananda Lewis's career
Ananda Lewis, a renowned TV host and advocate, dies at 52 after battling stage 4 breast cancer | Credit: X
As host of BET's Teen Summit, Lewis initially attracted national acclaim for her work, which struck a deep chord with teenage audiences and brought her respect in the business. She became one of the most recognizable faces on MTV in the mid-1990s after her growing popularity led to significant hosting duties on the network's Total Request Live and Hot Zone. She won several NAACP Image Awards while she worked at MTV.
She started a syndicated daytime talk show called The Ananda Lewis Show in 2001. From 2004 to 2005, she worked as a correspondent for The Insider. In 2019, she made her most recent TV appearance on TLC's While You Were Out. Later in life, Lewis obtained a professional trade certificate in carpentry, another skill he pursued.
After receiving a Stage III breast cancer diagnosis in 2020, she chose to pursue alternative therapies. She freely disclosed to her admirers that the illness has advanced to Stage IV by 2024.
Ananda Lewis's family
Ananda was Native American, primarily of the Creek and Blackfoot tribes, and of African American heritage. "Bliss" is the Sanskrit meaning of her first name. Lewis's father was a computer animation specialist, while her mother was an account manager for Pacific Bell. Lakshmi, her sister, works as a doctor.
When Ananda was two years old, Lewis's parents separated, and her mother relocated to San Diego, California, with her girls in order to be close to her mother. Her husband, Harry Smith, the younger brother of Will Smith and the CEO of Smith Global Media, is her surviving relative. Langston, the couple's only child, was born in 2011.
What was Ananda Lewis's net worth?
She started her show in 2001 | Credit: X
Many people are interested in the financial legacy that Ananda Lewis left for her two children in the wake of her death. The website Cloudflare stated that The Ananda Lewis Show is thought to be worth approximately $8 million , despite the fact that no official data have been made public regarding her net worth.
How did Ananda Lewis die?
After a protracted battle with stage 4 breast cancer, prominent TV anchor Ananda Lewis, a former hostess of the Teen Summit on BET and an MTV VJ, passed away at the age of 52. Her sister Lakshmi confirmed her death in a sorrowful Facebook post, writing, "She's free, and in His heavenly arms."
Rest her soul, Lord. But in 2020, Ananda revealed that she had received a breast cancer diagnosis. She later shared her experience with the world in an effort to raise awareness and stop what she believed to be her mistakes.
Initially, I intended to rid my body of extra poisons. I know that my body is intelligent, yet I still feel that way. During a roundtable interview with CNN in October 2024, she remarked, "Our bodies are brilliantly made." I decided to preserve my tumor and attempt to remove it from my body in a different manner. I want to return. I must acknowledge my mistakes in this.