UNITED STATES — Former MTV star Ananda Lewis, known for hosting talk shows and interviewing superstars in the 90s, has died at age 52 after a years-long breast cancer fight, according to a CNN report.
The 90s star was candid about her diagnosis which she announced in 2020 and her decision to seek alternative treatment, including forgoing a double mastectomy, according to the report.
She told CNN during a 2024 podcast on cancer “This journey is very personal and you have to do what works for you and only you,” “I decided to keep my tumor and try to work it out of my body a different way… They wanted to do all these big things that I was not ready for.”
The report highlighted Lewis’ training and dedication to young people, noting that she attended Howard University in Washington DC, where she spent time as a youth activist, with the Youth Leadership and Development Institute (YLDI). Lewis worked as a trainer with teenagers in a program called “Youth at Risk.”
She became famous after her charges at YLDI pushed her to audition for a hosting gig at BET for the show Teen Summit which she eventually landed. The report describes as a series that focused on social issues affecting young Black Americans featuring names such as basketball legend Kobe Bryant and former First Lady Hillary Clinton.
It was after this that Lewis moved to MTV as a video jockey (VJ) and became known for hosting uber popular teen music shows including “Total Request Live” and “Hot Zone”.
Lewis’ sister Lakshmi Emory confirmed the news of her death with a Facebook tribute on Wednesday.
