The article profiles Hoyt Richards, often described as the first male supermodel, and recounts how he spent approximately 15 years involved with Eternal Values, a New Age group led by former model Frederick von Mierers. The story is being revisited through the HBO documentary Bring Me the Beauties: A Model Cult.
Richards appeared an unlikely recruit. He came from an affluent Philadelphia-area family, graduated from Princeton with a degree in economics, and became one of the highest-paid male models of the late 1980s and early 1990s, working for major fashion brands and earning millions. Yet he was searching for meaning and direction after a football injury disrupted his original career plans. Von Mierers, whom Richards had known since his teens, offered spiritual answers and gradually drew him deeper into the group.
According to the article, Eternal Values presented itself as an elite spiritual movement. Von Mierers specifically recruited attractive, successful, and affluent young people, telling followers they were being prepared to become leaders of a coming New Age after an anticipated global catastrophe. Members were encouraged to view themselves as part of a chosen group destined for salvation.
Former members describe increasingly controlling conditions inside the group. Richards recalls strict behavioral rules, pressure to sever ties with family and friends, public humiliation sessions for those who questioned leadership, and intense devotion to von Mierers. He has also alleged sexual abuse within the organization. Critics and former members characterize these practices as coercive and psychologically manipulative.
Despite earning millions as a model, Richards says he surrendered most of his income to the group. By the time he escaped in 1999 from the group's compound near Asheville, North Carolina, he reportedly had no savings, little contact with the outside world, and relied on fellow model Fabio Lanzoni to help him start over.
The article emphasizes the contrast between Richards' glamorous public image and his private life inside the group. It also highlights a broader lesson: vulnerability to high-control groups is not limited to the isolated or uneducated. Richards was successful, educated, and socially connected, yet still became deeply involved. Today, he speaks publicly about cultic influence, supports survivors, and reflects on how similar manipulation techniques continue to appear in modern society and online communities.
Key Takeaway
El País presents Richards' story as a cautionary example of how charismatic leaders can attract highly accomplished individuals by offering purpose, belonging, and certainty. The article argues that Eternal Values combined elite social networks, spiritual promises, and increasing psychological control to create what Richards now describes as a "mental prison."
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