By Helen Peterson, Tracy Connor
November 9, 2005
An aspiring model says a top fashion executive lured her to his office with the promise of a catwalk job, then pawed her like she was a hooker.
Kelly Alexander, 24, filed a sex discrimination lawsuit yesterday against Bahram Hakakian, founder of the Barami clothing store chain.
The Riverhead, L.I., woman claims that in July 2004, she was shopping in a Barami Boutique when a worker approached her about a model position. She was called in for an interview with Hakakian at his Garment District office on Sept. 1, 2004. Hakakian allegedly showed her lewd cartoons, forced her to change clothes in front of him, unzipped the garments she was trying on and groped her. He's also accused of trying to kiss her, offering her drugs and alcohol and requesting that she also sit on his lap and sing.
"I was terrified and I really didn't know how to get out of the situation," Alexander said yesterday. She said after about an hour, she bolted the office and spent the next week, "bawling." After consulting a lawyer, she went back to the Barami offices and confronted Hakakian while wearing a wire, she said.
Hakakian could not be reached for comment, but his lawyer said he has "denied all wrongdoing in connection with Miss Alexander."