Ananda Lewis, the beloved and trailblazing former Teen Summit and TRL host, died on June 11, 2025, after a courageous battle with metastatic breast most cancers, and BOSSIP is paying homage to the unique It Woman.
The California-born media pioneer made her debut on BET‘s groundbreaking speak present, Teen Summit, in 1996, shortly after graduating magna cum laude from Howard College. Her magnificence mixed with a love of our tradition, unmatched charisma and a talented hand at dealing with the unpredictability of reside tv made Lewis probably the greatest within the sport. Nevertheless it was her coronary heart, the uncommon potential to be an absolute skilled whereas nonetheless making room for uncooked emotion, that made her a fan favourite.
Greater than only a fairly face, Lewis took on the duty of sitting down with heavy hitters like former First Woman Hillary Clinton to debate the real-life challenges confronted by Black youngsters and made it look easy. She was comfortably at residence, whether or not she was advocating for secure intercourse or tackling heated debates on the results of rap music on younger individuals. Irrespective of the second, Lewis introduced relatable cool-girl power and genuine perception. Her dedication to advocacy didn’t finish in entrance of the cameras as she usually used moments from her precise life to show invaluable classes to others, together with when she revealed her plan to stay abstinent for six months as a call-to-arms for different younger girls to rethink their relationship with intercourse.
“I made the choice for egocentric causes, however I’m going public right here as a result of I noticed I’d be capable of assist different ladies, too,” she stated. “I do know the type of drama that being sexually energetic brings to your life. I felt that if it was good for me to take a break, it could be good for different younger ladies, too. You see, I feel I might be a complete totally different particular person if I hadn’t had intercourse so early. All people was saying, “Do it!” however no person ever stated, “You don’t should do it”. I feel listening to that might have made an enormous distinction in my life.”
In 1997, MTV recruited Lewis to assist deliver their exhibits, Complete Request Dwell (TRL) and Scorching Zone, new life. And he or she did simply that. Followers and artists alike took to the previous magnificence pageant winner’s potential to make interviewing the largest expertise on the planet really feel like a dialog between two outdated mates. Lewis additionally continued her work as a voice for points affecting younger individuals by overlaying devastating moments just like the Columbine Excessive Faculty bloodbath and the passing of her pricey pal, Aaliyah. She rapidly proved that regardless of the identify on the community, her presence as one among her technology’s foremost thought leaders, trendsetters, and distinguished voices was a necessity.
”Previously, our expertise was generally simply fairly individuals who might learn cue playing cards,” Bob Kusbit, then MTV’s senior vice chairman for manufacturing informed The New York Occasions in 1999 about her abilities. ”However once we introduced Ananda to MTV, we determined we had been going to do much more reside tv, and I used to be before everything considering her potential to do reside TV.”
In 2001, the consummate media maven debuted her very personal speak present, The Ananda Lewis Present, simply in the future earlier than the devastating assaults on the World Commerce Heart. As soon as once more, individuals turned to Lewis for her potential to attach, console, and supply one-of-a-kind commentary when it was wanted essentially the most. Although she would later categorical that she wasn’t able to tackle the obligation of internet hosting her personal present, she cemented herself in TV historical past as one of many solely Black girls to host a daytime speak program.
Lewis stepped away from the highlight earlier than changing into the host of The Insider in 2004 and often made appearances on common TV exhibits earlier than taking time away to concentrate on her private life and a profession in carpentry. In 2011, she welcomed her son, Langston, who she referred to as “one of the best factor I’ve ever accomplished.” In 2020, Lewis revealed in an Instagram put up that she had been identified with breast most cancers after refusing mammograms for concern of radiation publicity. She would later categorical her remorse and urged different girls to maintain up with their screenings as “prevention is the true treatment” for most cancers. Nonetheless, the ever-cool, ever-transparent voice of a technology spoke candidly and left us with phrases to reside by.
“We’re not meant to remain right here ceaselessly. We come to this life, have experiences — after which we go,” she wrote in an essay for ESSENCE in January. “Being actual about that with your self adjustments the way you select to reside. I don’t need to spend yet another minute than I’ve to struggling unnecessarily. That, for me, isn’t the standard of life I’m considering. When it’s time for me to go, I would like to have the ability to look again on my life and say, ‘I did that precisely how I needed to.’”
Ananda Lewis was many issues all through her wealthy and plentiful life—a mom, TV host, youth advocate, magnificence queen and carpenter—however what was all the time obvious was that she was ours. Greater than a voice for the tradition, she was a guardian of it. And at this time she’s left a silence that no different particular person can fill. Relaxation in peace to a real one among one.
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