Supermodel Left $4.5M to Alien-Believing Cult Leader

A new HBO docuseries, "Bring Me the Beauties: A Model Cult," premiering June 1, examines the "Eternal Values" cult that flourished in the 1980s and '90s. The three-part series focuses on former supermodel Hoyt Richards, who was deeply involved with the group and its enigmatic leader, Frederick von Mierers.

Von Mierers, who passed away in 1990 from AIDS-related causes, presented himself as a being from Arcturus with superior cosmic consciousness. He attracted many models and professionals, including Richards, with a blend of Eastern philosophy, astrology, and New Age beliefs, promising spiritual enlightenment.

Richards, a prominent figure in the fashion world for brands like Versace and Valentino, reportedly donated approximately $4.5 million of his earnings to von Mierers over two decades. The cult employed psychological manipulation, including a "gem prescription" scheme where members bought precious stones at inflated prices, and intense verbal "slamming sessions."

The documentary, drawing on a 1990 Vanity Fair exposé titled "East Side Alien," also highlights the cult's doomsday prophecies, including the belief that global cataclysm would strike in 1999, necessitating escape via alien spaceships.

Richards escaped the cult in 1999 at age 37, a process he described as challenging and involving a lengthy period of deprogramming. He now works as a consultant, advocating for a compassionate approach to help individuals and families affected by cults, stressing the importance of offering information and building bridges.

The series is directed by Chris Smith and explores how cults thrive on binary thinking, a mindset Richards believes is prevalent in today's society, making individuals more susceptible to manipulation. "Bring Me the Beauties: A Model Cult" airs Mondays at 9 p.m. ET on HBO and streams on HBO Max.