📺 ANANDA LEWIS’ RIP 2025 – Jun 11

American television host, VJ, carpenter, and social activist known for her work on BET, MTV’s Total Request Live and her own talk show.

Join the CELEBRATION of an amazing career, wishing them well as we EXPLORE their accomplishments. 🥳

by Coastin Carl updated June 12, 2025, 11:04 pm 90 Views

👤 ANANDA LEWIS’ Background

Ananda Lewis (born March 21, 1973 in San Diego, California) became a well-known television personality. She began her career hosting BET’s Teen Summit in the mid-1990s, earning a 1997 NAACP Image Award for her discussions with young people on important social issues.

This led to her becoming a prominent MTV VJ in 1997, hosting popular shows like Total Request Live, Hot Zone, and MTV Jams. In 1999, the New York Times dubbed her “the hip-hop generation’s reigning It Girl.”

After leaving MTV in 2001, she launched her own syndicated daytime talk show, The Ananda Lewis Show, which produced over 250 episodes. She also served as a correspondent for The Insider and hosted other TV programs like A&E’s America’s Top Dog and TLC’s While You Were Out.

Later in her life, she also pursued carpentry and became a social activist, particularly in health advocacy after her own cancer diagnosis, urging women to prioritize early detection. Ananda Lewis died on June 11, 2025, at the age of 52, after a battle with breast cancer.

Bestseller No. 1

The Ananda Lewis Story: A Journey of Resilience, Authenticity, and Impact

Amazon Kindle Edition
Hayman, Barack (Author)
English (Publication Language)

🌟 ANANDA LEWIS’ Profile

Get to know Ananda Lewis better. Here are some key facts about her life, career, and personal details.

💙 WHO is Ananda Lewis?

FULL NAME: Ananda Lewis
BORN: March 21, 1973
NICKNAME: none
BIRTHPLACE: San Diego, California, USA
HEIGHT: 5′ 9″
ASTROLOGICAL ZODIAC BIRTH SIGN: Aries

💙 PERSONAL Life

SPOUSES: Harry Smith (brother of actor Will Smith) is father to her child
CHILDREN: Langston

💙 FINANCIAL Status

ESTIMATED NET WORTH: $500,000

💙 CAREER Highlights

PRIMARY OCCUPATION: Television Host, VJ
MAJOR RECOGNITION: NAACP Image Award (1997) for Teen Summit

🥰 HOW to Celebrate & Observe ANANDA LEWIS’ Birthday?

Not sure how to LOVE the day? We’ve got a few interesting ideas to consider that may help you get started.

Here are some activities that you can do on ANANDA LEWIS’ Birthday.

💙 SUPPORT Breast Cancer Awareness

Since Ananda was a strong advocate after her diagnosis, consider donating to a breast cancer research or support organization. You could also share information about early detection.

💙 WATCH Her Old Shows

Find clips or full episodes of Teen Summit, Total Request Live, or The Ananda Lewis Show. It’s a way to remember her impactful career.

💙 LEARN Carpentry

As she later became a carpenter, you could explore a local woodworking class or learn about the craft.

💙 RAISE Social Awareness

Use social media posts with the hashtags #AnandaLewis, #AnandaLewisBirthday, #Birthdays, #MarchHolidays, #Holiday, #FindADayToLOVE, #iHEARTdays to support the importance of celebrating, promoting, and sharing with the world why you ❤️ ANANDA LEWIS’ Birthday.

LEARN more about ANANDA LEWIS

ANANDA BATTLING CANCER

ELEVEN Fun Facts you never knew about ANANDA LEWIS

Her first name, Ananda, means “bliss” in Sanskrit.
Won Little Miss San Diego Contest at age eight with a self-choreographed dance.
Overcame stuttering by age eight.
Volunteered with Head Start at 13; worked with “Youth at Risk” programs.
Interviewed Hillary Clinton while hosting BET’s Teen Summit.
Close friend of singer Aaliyah; covered her death for MTV.
Praised by MTV for her live television skills.
Named one of People magazine’s “50 Most Beautiful People” in 2000.
Prince reportedly called her “Cleopatra,” a “queen.”
Later expressed regret about not having a double mastectomy after breast cancer diagnosis.
Graduated Cum Laude from Howard University with a B.A. in History.

Insightful QUOTES by Ananda Lewis

ANANDA LEWIS Quotes

“Prevention is the real cure” for cancer.”

“We’re not meant to stay here forever. When it’s time for me to go, I want to be able to look back on my life and say, ‘I did that exactly how I wanted to.’ “

Future DATES for ANANDA LEWIS’ Birthday

Year	Date	Day of the Week
2025	March 21	Friday
2026	March 21	Saturday
2027	March 21	Sunday
2028	March 21	Tuesday
2029	March 21	Wednesday

Why we L💜VE ANANDA LEWIS

Ananda Lewis left a lasting mark on her audience and the entertainment industry. Beyond her on-screen charisma, people admired her for several key qualities that resonated deeply with them.

AUTHENTICITY & RELATABILITY

Ananda Lewis always seemed genuine and connected with her audience in a real, approachable way, whether discussing serious topics or playing music.
Trailblazing VERSATILITY

As a Black woman, she held prominent roles on major networks like BET and MTV, breaking barriers. She moved seamlessly from VJ to talk show host, correspondent, and even explored carpentry.
COURAGEOUS Advocacy

Ananda’s openness about her breast cancer journey and her strong push for early detection showed immense courage and a commitment to helping others.
INTELLIGENCE & Positive ENERGY

Her thoughtful approach, evident in her history degree, combined with a vibrant, confident, and calming presence, made her a compelling figure to watch.