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Sarasvati Ananda Lewis (March 21, 1973 – June 11, 2025) was an American broadcast journalist, human rights activist, two-time NAACP Image Award recipient, distinguished Howard University alumna, professional carpenter and prominent HBCU community member. Described as "a bright star who was the voice of a generation," Ananda Lewis served as a cultural role model and staple television personality for BET and MTV during the late 1990s, when she became best known for her social advocacy works highlighted by the epic interviews she conducted with the likes of Hillary Clinton, Kobe Bryant and Louis Farrakhan for shows including BET's Teen Summit and MTV's True Life: I Am Driving While Black. This, in addition to Lewis' culturally iconic spot as an MTV VJ on Total Request Live, a role out that was capped with her accomplished -- yet quietly-challenging -- TRL live breaking news coverage over the August 25, 2001 plane crash that caused the sudden and unexpected death of Aaliyah, who was one of Lewis' close personal friends. Just weeks following Aaliyah's death, one day before American society was rocked by the tragic events of the September 11th, 2001, Lewis engaged the planned debut of The Ananda Lewis Show, a nationally-syndicated American television talk show that ran for just two seasons, and attempted to tackle serious subjects as opposed to more sensationalized counterparts such as the Ricki Lake Show and the Jerry Springer Show. After a break from television, she became a correspondent for The Insider, delving into the intricacies of the entertainment industry. Lewis then stepped away from the spotlight once again as she answered the call to serve as caregiver for her grandmother -- during which time it is said that her call to carpentry came about. "She took on the role of caregiver for her grandmother and needed to take care of her home," writes Mobley. "Instead of relying on others for repairs, she enrolled in a Los Angeles community college." After earning her associate's degree in carpentry, Lewis returned to television to host the 2019 revival of While You Were Out on TLC.

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Born	Sarasvati Ananda Lewis 21 March 1973 Los Angeles, California, USA
Died	11 June 2025 (aged 52) Los Angeles, California, USA
Zodiac	Aries
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