Frederick von Mierers: The Man Behind the Cult

Frederick von Mierers' life and death are explored in a new HBO series.

Here are the key facts about the series before it starts on HBO.

A new HBO Max series, Bring Me the Beauties: A Model Cult, explores the life of supermodel Hoyt Richards and his involvement with a cult led by Frederick von Mierers, who claimed to be an alien.

The documentary starts with 16-year-old Richards meeting a socialite on Nantucket beach, who introduces him to the Eternal Values spiritual group.

Richards becomes part of the group, which helps launch his modeling career, but he soon realizes the group's controlling tendencies.

The series looks at cult leader Frederick von Mierers, his life, and his death.

The documentary starts on Tuesday on HBO.

Frederick von Mierers was born Freddy Miers in Brooklyn, New York, on Christmas Day, 1946. He was raised by his Jewish single mother. His father's name is unknown. Von Mierers spent most of his childhood with an aunt.

As a young man, Freddy worked as a model and changed his name to Frederick von Mierers. He became a New York socialite and got on the Social Register, a list of America's most elite individuals.

Von Mierers made up a story about his parents dying in a car accident and being raised by his grandparents. He also said arts patron Earle Kress Williams was his guardian.

Hoyt Richards talks about how his rise to fame was driven by the enigmatic cult leader.

Von Mierers became a spiritual leader, claiming to be an alien 'walk-in' from the star Arcturus. He said he was sent to lead people to enlightenment.

Von Mierers believed in 'walk-ins', alien energies that enter human bodies to lead people to a new era of knowledge.

Von Mierers combined different spiritual teachings to guide his followers, who were mostly rich and successful. He promised them they would be saved by a UFO when the world ended in 1999.

You can watch the documentary series for free with Sky's £22 Ultimate TV bundle, which includes HBO Max, Netflix, and other channels.

Von Mierers spread his teachings through a radio show and a cable TV program. A book about him, Aliens Amongst Us, was written by former reporter Ruth Montgomery.

Supermodel Hoyt Richards was one of von Mierers' followers and claims he was exploited out of millions of dollars.

Supermodel Hoyt Richards attended the premiere of Bring Me the Beauties.

Von Mierers kept his personal life private and made his followers live a celibate lifestyle. He died of AIDS-related complications in 1990.

Von Mierers' followers did not know about his diagnosis, and some thought he was murdered. These claims are included in the documentary series.

The cult continued for almost a decade after von Mierers' death but disbanded in 1999. Hoyt Richards' exit from the group was a major factor in its dissolution.

The documentary series, Bring Me the Beauties: A Model Cult, premieres on Tuesday, 2nd June on HBO Max.

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