From Runway to Cult: The Two-Decade Ordeal of Model Hoyt Richards

Hoyt Richards—a Princeton graduate and pioneering male supermodel who worked for luxury houses such as Versace, Valentino, Ralph Lauren, and Burberry—was a member of the Eternal Values cult for two decades. His story is now the subject of a new three-part HBO docuseries, Bring Me the Beauties: A Model Cult, premiering June 1, 2026.

The Cult and Its Leader

Frederick von Mierers founded Eternal Values, claiming to be an alien "walk-in" from the star Arcturus. The group specifically targeted attractive, ambitious individuals in New York's fashion scene.

A Fateful Meeting

In 1978, at age 16, Richards met von Mierers on a Nantucket beach and was drawn into the group.

Richards gave the cult approximately $4.5 million of his modeling earnings over nearly 20 years. At his peak, he earned $90,000 per month.

Inside Eternal Values

The group engaged in a range of activities:

• New Age philosophy
• Expensive healing rituals
• Drug-fueled sexual activities
• An illicit gem business

Von Mierers died in 1990.

Media Coverage and Docuseries

A 1990 Vanity Fair exposé detailed the cult's connection to Ford Models. The HBO docuseries includes archival footage and interviews with former members.

Richards stated, "My career was taking off, and I thought it was because I was involved with this group and had made a conscious choice to commit myself to God and to living a spiritual life."

Director Chris Smith said, "It was [Jackie's] realization that this group is not what it seems and not a healthy environment."