HBO’s “BRING ME THE BEAUTIES: A MODEL CULT” Explores Alleged New Age Modeling Group and Its Charismatic Leader [TRAILER]

Written by: Sam Santiago

HBO is set to dive into the world of fame, influence, and alleged manipulation with its new three part documentary series BRING ME THE BEAUTIES: A MODEL CULT, directed and executive produced by Chris Smith, best known for HBO’s 100 Foot Wave. The series premieres Monday, June 1 at 9:00 p.m. ET/PT on HBO and will also stream on HBO Max, with new episodes airing weekly.

At the center of the story is Hoyt Richards, who recalls being pulled into a spiritual group called Eternal Values after meeting a Manhattan socialite and self styled guru Frederick von Mierers as a teenager on Nantucket. What begins as exposure to New Age philosophy and personal development quickly escalates into something far more controlling, ultimately overlapping with Richards’ rise as one of the first male supermodels of the 1980s.

WATCH THE TRAILER FOR "BRING ME THE BEAUTIES: A MODEL CULT" BELOW

According to the series, Eternal Values presented itself as a spiritual movement built around metaphysical teachings, self realization, and enlightenment. However, former members describe a far more complex and troubling environment shaped by strict ideological control, financial dependence, and behavioral influence centered around von Mierers’ authority.

The figure at the heart of the group, Frederick von Mierers, is portrayed as a larger than life leader who claimed to be an alien “walk in” from the star system Arcturus. While such claims have circulated in alternative spiritual circles and fringe New Age communities, including mentions in historical references on Wikipedia style entries related to New Age beliefs and UFO religious movements, they have also been widely associated with cult like dynamics where charismatic leaders assert extraordinary identities to establish control over followers.

Within Eternal Values, that belief system allegedly expanded into a structure where members were encouraged to purchase expensive “healing” objects, maintain strict ascetic lifestyles, and recruit new members. Richards, who became financially successful as a model, is described as helping fund the group while living under highly restrictive conditions in New York City alongside other devotees.

The documentary also explores how the group’s messaging evolved over time. Former members recount a shift from early spiritual discipline toward increasingly invasive expectations, including pressure around relationships and intimacy. These developments are framed within the broader cultural backdrop of the AIDS crisis in New York, adding additional social tension to the group’s activities.

Collage used from https://melmagazine.com/en-us/story/fabio-helped-me-escape-from-a-cult

Archival footage featured in the series includes appearances from the group’s public access television programming, which helped spread its philosophy to a wider audience during its peak influence. As the story unfolds, questions emerge about von Mierers himself, including whether his claimed identity and teachings were genuine or constructed as part of a larger system of manipulation.

Episode one, titled The Promise, premieres June 1 and follows Richards’ early introduction to Frederick von Mierers and the foundations of Eternal Values. Episode two, The Antichrist Tapes, airing June 8, tracks the group’s expansion into a North Carolina compound and escalating apocalyptic predictions tied to the year 1999. Episode three, Mind Games, airing June 15, follows the eventual fragmentation of the group and Richards’ attempts to reconcile his past involvement.

Featured participants include former members Hoyt Richards, Paul Hinton, Dar Dixon, and Elissa Melaragno, alongside models Fabio Lanzoni, John Pearson, and Jacki Adams. The series also incorporates archival material featuring Frederick von Mierers.

BRING ME THE BEAUTIES: A MODEL CULT is produced by Library Films for HBO Documentary Films, directed and executive produced by Chris Smith, with executive production from Ryann Fraser and HBO executives Nancy Abraham, Lisa Heller, and Sara Rodriguez.