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American TV host and former MTV VJ Ananda Lewis has passed away at age 51, following a private seven-year battle with cancer.
Her death was confirmed by her sister, Lakshmi Emory, in a heartfelt Facebook post on June 11. Emory wrote: “She’s free, and in His heavenly arms. Lord, rest her soul.”
Lewis first revealed her stage three breast cancer diagnosis in 2020, admitting she had avoided regular mammograms out of fear, especially after watching her mother undergo mammograms and still battle cancer for nearly 30 years. Her illness later progressed to stage four.
In one of her final Instagram posts, Lewis expressed regret about not opting for a double mastectomy and urged followers to prioritise their health. “There are things I wish I did differently, like ten years ago, to prevent cancer,” she said in the video. The caption read, “Prevention IS the cure...” and encouraged fans to read her Essence magazine article about the lessons she learned during her journey.
Ananda rose to fame in the late ‘90s, hosting MTV staples like Total Request Live and Hot Zone, and quickly became one of the network’s most beloved personalities. She later launched The Ananda Lewis Show in 2001 and earned two NAACP Image Awards during her career. The New York Times once called her “the hip-hop generation’s reigning It Girl.”
Outside of television, Lewis was also a skilled carpenter and hosted TLC’s While You Were Out in 2019.
She is remembered not only for her trailblazing career, but also for her honesty, advocacy, and strength. A memorial service is planned in the coming weeks.