HBO Docuseries 'Bring Me the Beauties' Explores Eternal Values Cult That Targeted Supermodels

The HBO docuseries 'Bring Me the Beauties: A Model Cult,' directed by Chris Smith and premiering June 1, examines the Eternal Values cult that operated in New York and North Carolina from the 1980s until 1999. The cult was led by Frederick von Mierers (1946-1990), who claimed to be a 'walk-in' alien from Arcturus and attracted many models and professionals with a mix of Eastern philosophy, astrology, and New Age thinking. Former supermodel Hoyt Richards, who joined at age 16 and lived in von Mierers' Upper East Side apartment building, is the central subject. Richards gave an estimated $4.5 million to the cult over two decades. Von Mierers ran a 'gem prescription' scheme, selling inflated precious stones to members, and conducted 'slamming sessions' of verbal abuse. He died of AIDS-related causes in 1990. Richards escaped in 1999 at age 37 and later reconciled with his father before his death at 95. The series draws on archival footage and Marie Brenner's 1990 Vanity Fair exposé 'East Side Alien.' Richards now works as a consultant helping families with loved ones in cults.