Remembering Media Personality And Social Activist Ananda Lewis

Former Teen Summit Host and MTV VJ Ananda Lewis has died at 52. The pioneering media personality and social activist succumbed to a years-long battle with breast cancer. Ananda’s sister announced the news of her passing in a Facebook post on June 11. 

“She’s free, and in His heavenly arms. Lord, rest her soul,” the post read. 

Born in Los Angeles, but raised in San Diego, Ananda graduated cum laude from Howard University in 1995. Not long after that, she became a premier voice on BET’s Teen Summit, where she discussed issues affecting the young Black community. She moved on to MTV in 1997, where she hosted Hot Zone and Total Request Live. In 2001, she hosted The Ananda Lewis Show,  followed by roles on America’s Top Dog, TLC’s While You Were Out, Celebrity Mole, and The Insider. 

Her Agenda interviewed Ananda for a 2023 feature, where she discussed her career and passion for activism, particularly when it comes to advocating for positive health outcomes. In 2020, Lewis announced that she was diagnosed with stage III breast cancer, and she leaned into using her platform to discuss her journey, as well as maintaining faith. 

“Faith for me was a big part of why I was able and am able to continue on this journey with as much tenacity as I have. I know that I’m not going to fail,” she told Her Agenda. “My fear wasn’t dying. Nobody gets out of here alive. What’s standing in the way of you seeing [your blessings] and accessing them is probably something you are either doing or not doing. When I talk about people taking power over their lives and their health, it’s an active power. Power is not passive.” 

Ananda is survived by her son, Langston, and her sister, Lakshmi.