A new three-part documentary series, Bring Me the Beauties: A Model Cult, directed by Chris Smith (Bad Vegan), airs tonight on HBO Max in the UK. The series explores the relationship between 1980s supermodel Hoyt Richards and spiritual leader Frederick von Mierers, head of the group Eternal Values.
Von Mierers used his charisma to recruit young, successful, and attractive members from New York's elite, convincing them to devote their lives and millions of dollars to his teachings. He claimed to be possessed by an alien entity offering salvation through expensive gemstones with healing properties.
The documentary examines how New Age beliefs intersected with the booming health and beauty industries in the 1980s and 1990s, trapping top models in fraud and coercion. Critics have praised the series, with Heaven of Horror calling it 'a breathtaking and scary dive into the world of a cult'.
The first episode airs tonight, with subsequent episodes releasing weekly on Tuesdays. The series has been noted for its archival footage and timely themes of beauty and success.
