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

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.

CNN anchor Sara Sidner and correspondent Stephanie Elam broke down on air while sharing the final message from MTV VJ Ananda Lewis, who died Wednesday following a prolonged battle with breast cancer.