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Model Cult: 80s Supermodel's Alien Guru Exposed
19 May
Summary
- Former male supermodel Hoyt Richards joined a cult in his teens.
- The guru claimed to be an alien and sold 'healing' gemstones.
- The group evolved from abstinence to sexual coercion.
- Fabio Lanzoni helped Richards escape the cult.
A new documentary series, 'Bring Me the Beauties: A Model Cult,' reveals the shocking story of Hoyt Richards, one of the first male supermodels of the 1980s.
At 16, Richards was drawn into 'Eternal Values,' a spiritual group led by Frederick von Mierers. Von Mierers, who presented himself as an alien from Arcturus, used a blend of astrology and self-improvement to recruit models and professionals in glittering 1980s New York.
Richards lived a dual existence, working as a successful model by day and living in poverty by night, all while supporting the cult. Von Mierers further exploited followers by convincing them to buy costly gemstones for a supposed global cataclysm and spreading his message via public access television.
The group's practices shifted from early calls for abstinence to eventual sexual coercion, a disturbing reality occurring amidst the AIDS crisis. Eventually, fellow model Fabio Lanzoni helped Richards break free from the cult's control.
