UPN News Report on Sexual Harassment Suit
A would be model is not striking a pose, she's striking back. She claims she was
sexually harassed by a well known clothing designer.
She wanted to walk the catwalk, but Kelly Alexander soon realized the price was
too high when sex dominated her interview with the founder of Barami clothing
stores. Now she's suing for sexual harassment, and her dignity. Aspiring
actress, singer, and model Kelly Alexander says Bahram Hakakian, owner of
Barami women's stores, turned an interview for a modeling job into a sex-laced
incident where she had to fend off unwanted sexual advances in his garment
district office.
Kelly Alexander says the trouble started in July 2004, when she was shopping at
the Barami store on East 57th Street. She says that's when an employee of the
store approached her and asked if she'd be interested in modeling for the
company.
"I said, 'Alright guys, you don't have to butter me up, I'm going to buy the
pants,' and they said, 'No, no, the reason we're asking you is because we want
you to model for our store,'" said Alexander.
She said Bahram Hakakian soon called and asked her to come in so he could
meet her in person. She said he offered her wine and more.
"He offered her drugs, he fondled her breasts and buttocks, and he touched his
genitals to her body," reported her lawyer, Jack Tuckner.
At the Barami on 7th Avenue, the employees weren't talking. We got a much
better reaction from current company president Michael Mahoney at Barami
Headquarters.
"I talked to Bahram today, he said 'Forget about it, none of that stuff
happened.'"
"If you knew me, this just does not happen to me," Alexander said.
The law suit seeks unspecified damages. The accused, Bahram Hakakian, was
not available for comment.