A new HBO documentary series is coming in June that tells a wild story from the fashion world. Bring Me the Beauties: A Model Cult follows Hoyt Richards, one of the first male supermodels, and his time inside a secretive group called Eternal Values. The three-part series premieres Monday, June 1, at 9:00 p.m. ET/PT on HBO and will be available to stream on HBO Max.
The official trailer dropped on May 19, showing Richards explaining how he met a mysterious man on a beach as a teenager. That meeting changed everything.
The Story Behind the Documentary
The series comes from Emmy-winning director Chris Smith, who made HBO’s “100 Foot Wave” and the popular documentary “Fyre” about the failed music festival. Smith spent years getting former group members to agree to talk on camera.
Richards was only 16 years old when he met Frederick von Mierers on a Nantucket beach. Von Mierers was a Manhattan socialite who claimed to be an alien from the star system Arcturus. He called himself a “walk-in” on a mission of self-realization.
“When I was 16, I was on Nantucket, and this gentleman put his towel down next to me and began engaging me in a conversation. He talked about Eastern religion and astrology.” – Hoyt Richards in the official trailer
Richards moved into von Mierers’ New York apartment as his modeling career took off. He became one of the biggest male models of the 1980s and 1990s. But behind the glamorous photo shoots, he lived a very different life.
Inside the Eternal Values Group
Von Mierers built a following by mixing astrology, spiritual teachings, and promises of enlightenment. He told followers they could save themselves from future troubles by buying expensive “healing” gems. The group recruited models and other beautiful people to join.
Richards gave millions of dollars from his modeling earnings to the group. He slept on a simple mat on the floor for nearly 15 years while living in von Mierers’ apartment.
The documentary includes interviews with other former members, including supermodel Jacki Adams. She spoke out against von Mierers in a Vanity Fair article years ago. This is the first time she has talked publicly about the group since then.
Fabio Lanzoni, another famous male model, also appears in the series. He helped Richards escape the cult in 1999.
Episode Release Schedule and Streaming Details
The three episodes will come out on consecutive Mondays starting June 1. Here is the complete schedule:
- Chapter 1 – “The Promise”: June 1
- Chapter 2 – “The Antichrist Tapes”: June 8
- Chapter 3 – “Mind Games”: June 15
Each episode airs at 9 p.m. Eastern and Pacific time on HBO. Viewers can also watch on HBO Max. The platform offers three plans for viewers in the United States. The ad-supported tier costs $10.99 monthly or $109.99 yearly. The ad-free tier runs $18.49 monthly or $184.99 yearly. The premium ad-free option is $22.99 monthly or $229.99 yearly.
Global audiences can check local HBO or Max availability. The documentary will likely be available on streaming partners in different regions. Viewers in the UK can watch through Sky Atlantic and NOW TV. Australian viewers can find it on Binge or Foxtel. Canadian audiences get access through Crave.
What the Trailer Shows
The official trailer gives a look at Richards’ double life. He traveled the world for fashion shoots while living under von Mierers’ control in New York. The group operated mostly in secret for years, hidden behind the glamorous image of its members.
Director Smith explained why this story stayed with him. “It was one of those stories that you couldn’t forget, understanding the journey he went on and how things unfolded,” Smith told Vulture. “It was just a juxtaposition of somebody who was at the height of the modeling world and also living this other double life.”
Smith said finding people to talk was the hardest part of making the series. “When we started talking in Hawaii, Hoyt said, ‘I doubt you will find anyone else that will talk to you.’ It was actually a couple of years that it took to finally get people to sit down with us.”
Some former members still see their time in Eternal Values as positive. Others view it as a painful experience. Smith noted that some people agreed to interviews because they wanted to defend von Mierers.
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Director’s Previous Work
Chris Smith has a reputation for telling strange but true stories. His documentary “American Movie” followed an amateur filmmaker’s dream. “Fyre” showed how a luxury music festival turned into a disaster. “Jim & Andy” looked at actor Jim Carrey’s method acting process.
With Bring Me the Beauties, Smith turns his camera on the fashion world’s hidden side. The series promises archival footage and interviews with people who have not spoken publicly before.
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