The docuseries, which premieres in June, centres on the experiences of Hoyt Richards, who rose to prominence as one of the first male supermodels. It chronicles his journey into, and eventual escape from, a high-control group known as Eternal Values, led by the charismatic Frederick von Mierers.
A Double Life in Manhattan
The story begins on a Nantucket beach, where a sixteen-year-old Richards first met von Mierers. This encounter drew him into the orbit of Eternal Values, a group that blended astrology, Eastern philosophy, and self-improvement rhetoric to attract models and ambitious young professionals within Manhattan's glamorous social scene.
Richards describes leading a starkly divided existence. By day, he was a highly paid, jet-setting model, the face of major campaigns. By night, he slept on a mat in von Mierers' apartment, contributing his earnings to the group and actively recruiting new members.
Control, Coercion, and the AIDS Crisis
As the group's influence grew, so did its leader's claims. Von Mierers presented himself as an extraterrestrial being from the planet Arcturus and urged his followers to purchase expensive 'healing' gemstones to prepare for a supposed global catastrophe. He even broadcast his teachings on public-access television to widen his reach.
According to former members cited in the series, the group's initial rules promoting chastity later morphed into forms of sexual coercion. This shift occurred against the deeply fraught backdrop of the 1980s AIDS crisis in New York, a period of immense fear and uncertainty, particularly for the gay community.
An Unlikely Rescuer
The series also details Richards' eventual break from the group, a process in which he was reportedly aided by an unlikely figure: fellow male supermodel Fabio Lanzoni. Fabio is said to have provided a safe haven for Richards after he made the decision to leave Eternal Values for good.
Director Chris Smith and Hoyt Richards have both spoken about the project, offering insight into how the series captures the psychological pressures and contradictions Richards faced during his years with the group.
'Bring Me the Beauties: A Model Cult' premieres on HBO and Max on June 1. The subsequent two episodes will be released on June 8 and June 15.
