Documentary Revisits Frederick von Mierers' 1980s Model Cult, Exposing Sex-and-Money Scheme
Updated
Updated · The Guardian · Jun 2
Documentary Revisits Frederick von Mierers' 1980s Model Cult, Exposing Sex-and-Money Scheme
3 articles · Updated · The Guardian · Jun 2
Summary
"Bring Me the Beauties: A Model Cult" revisits Frederick von Mierers' 1980s group Eternal Values, tracing how the former model drew followers into a pseudo-spiritual circle built around his authority.
1978 marked the cult's turning point: after an ear infection, von Mierers claimed to be a vessel for a being from Arcturus and used TV appearances, astrology readings and apocalypse warnings to pull in recruits and money.
Models were a prime target because von Mierers understood their insecurity, the film argues; members surrendered cash, endured "slamming sessions" and were drawn into sexual practices under the guise of spiritual discipline.
John Hoyt, once top male model Hoyt Richards, says he returned from international jobs to sleep on the cult's floor and hand over spare money, later realizing he had abandoned family and friends for nothing.
The documentary ultimately suggests the harder question is not what von Mierers wanted—sex and money—but why vulnerable people accepted his claims in the first place.