As a Black female voice in media, Ananda Lewis’s impact broke many invisible barriers, challenging stereotypes and paving the way for the generation that followed.

Former MTV VJ Dave Holmes is honoring his former colleague and friend Ananda Lewis. “Watching Ananda felt like checking in with your coolest, smartest friend,” Holmes, 54, shared with Us Weekly .

Ananda Lewis, who rose to fame as an MTV VJ and hosted shows like "Total Request Live" before launching her own talk show, has died at age 52 after a Stage 4 breast cancer diagnosis.

Ananda Lewis, a former MTV VJ who connected a generation of music fans to their favorite celebrities on the music network, has died. She was 52.

Lewis's sister Lakshmi Emory posted the news to Facebook that she had lost her years-long battle with breast cancer. She was 52 years old.

Former MTV VJ Ananda Lewis passed away on Wednesday, June 11th. Her sister, Lakshmi, posted on Facebook, stating she had died from metastatic breast cancer.

Ananda Lewis, a former MTV VJ who connected a generation of music fans to their favorite celebrities on the music network, has died. She was 52.