Lewis joined MTV in 1997 after being noticed for her work hosting BET's Teen Summit, quickly becoming one of the network's most popular VJs.12 During her tenure, she hosted flagship programs like "Total Request Live" and "Hot Zone," where she interviewed rising stars including Destiny's Child, Britney Spears, NSYNC, and Brandy.34 Her talent for live television set her apart, with MTV executive Bob Kusbit noting, "In the past, our talent was sometimes just pretty people who could read cue cards," highlighting Lewis's exceptional broadcasting abilities.5

Beyond music programming, Lewis tackled serious topics for the network, including hosting forums on school violence following the Columbine massacre and memorial tributes after Aaliyah's death in 2001.5 She made headlines in 1998 when she publicly committed to abstinence for at least six months, hoping to positively influence young viewers.5 By 1999, The New York Times had dubbed her "the hip-hop generation's reigning It Girl,"1 and even Prince was a vocal admirer, telling the Times, "Ananda is Cleopatra. You know she's a queen."1 Lewis left MTV in 2001 to launch her own syndicated talk show.

Before becoming an MTV sensation, Lewis made her mark as a host on BET's groundbreaking youth talk show "Teen Summit" from the mid-1990s. Created by Sheila Johnson and Tony Regusters, the show aired from September 16, 1989, to August 31, 2002, providing a platform for African-American teens to discuss pressing issues while featuring performances from artists like Tupac Shakur, Queen Latifah, and The Fugees.12 Lewis joined a distinguished lineup of hosts that included Lisa Johnson Smith (the original host), Belma Johnson, and "Prince" Dajour.2

"Teen Summit" was revolutionary in its approach, blending serious conversations with musical performances as a "trojan horse" to attract teenage viewers on Saturday afternoons.2 The show earned BET its first NAACP Image Award for "Outstanding Youth or Children's Series/Special" during Belma Johnson's tenure.2 Lewis's work on this pioneering program, which many credit as paving the way for later BET shows like "106 & Park," caught MTV's attention and launched her into mainstream television prominence.3 The series occasionally returns as a special on BET's schedule, cementing its legacy in youth-oriented programming.1

After establishing herself as a prominent MTV personality and being named one of PEOPLE's "50 Most Beautiful People" in 2000, Lewis left the network in 2001 to launch her own syndicated daytime talk show.12 "The Ananda Lewis Show" debuted on September 10, 2001, with considerable industry buzz and comparisons to Oprah Winfrey.13 The program aimed to unite different generations of women through meaningful discussions, deliberately avoiding the sensationalist approach popular in daytime television at the time.3

Unfortunately, the show faced immediate challenges when the September 11 terrorist attacks occurred just one day after its premiere.1 This national tragedy significantly disrupted television programming and viewership, making it exceptionally difficult for new shows to establish an audience.1 Despite airing on some WB and NBC stations, "The Ananda Lewis Show" was canceled after just one season.45 Lewis later expressed regret about the timing of the project, feeling she wasn't fully prepared for the responsibilities of hosting her own show.5