Tv character and former MTV VJ Ananda Lewis has handed away on the age of 52 following a non-public and brave battle with breast most cancers. Recognized for her heat, mind, and trailblazing presence in media, Lewis died final week after residing with the illness since 2020.
Her shut buddy, CNN correspondent Stephanie Elam, shared an emotional tribute throughout a CNN interview, revealing the ultimate textual content message Ananda despatched her earlier than her passing. Within the message, Lewis expressed acceptance, love, and deep non secular peace as her situation started to worsen.
“That is a part of the textual content she despatched me,” Elam mentioned in the course of the tearful dialog. “‘You understand my emotions on this. All of us go. These our bodies are on mortgage and should be returned. We are available love and select to go away it with love as effectively.’”
Elam, visibly emotional, continued by studying the ultimate line from Ananda: “I really like you my great lifelong bestie of besties.”
Ananda Lewis first rose to nationwide prominence within the late Nineteen Nineties as a number on MTV, the place she turned a defining voice of a technology—overlaying youth tradition, music, and social points with confidence and compassion. She later hosted The Ananda Lewis Present, labored as a correspondent for The Insider, and have become an outspoken advocate for well being and wellness, particularly in communities of colour.
In 2020, Lewis publicly revealed her breast most cancers prognosis, explaining that she had delayed getting mammograms out of concern and distrust in medical procedures—one thing she later urged different ladies to not repeat.
Her passing marks the lack of a revered voice, a loyal buddy, and a girl who impressed numerous viewers by merely being herself—unapologetic, genuine, and deeply human.
Ananda Lewis is remembered not just for her profession in entrance of the digital camera, but in addition for the love and light-weight she shared behind the scenes—together with her household, pals, and people fortunate sufficient to know her.