COME IN KIDS' SIZES? Alexander, with Michelle Rodriguez (left) and friend

Friends of Anand Jon Alexander, the Indian fashion designer who was arrested for rape and sexual assault last week, were surprised to hear the accusations—but not all that surprised. In fact, they say, America's Next Top Model designer Alexander has shown a creepy interest in much younger women—some of them budding celebrities—for years.

"He always had these really young, super-skinny, waify models hanging around him, thinking he would make them huge stars," says one former pal. Alexander's intentions toward the girls, who were often 16 or 17 years old, were ambiguous, adds the pal. "I never once saw him make a sexual advance with one of these girls. I never even heard him talk about sex."

But there was no question, says another friend, that Alexander put a lot of effort into cultivating high school girls for something.

"He targets young girls on Facebook and MySpace, under 18 types who are aspiring actresses and models, and tells them that he'll be able to 'hook them up' as long as they stay with him," the friend says.

To maintain the appearance of influence, she adds, "he'll go up to every celebrity at a party and introduce himself and try to get their contact info. Afterwards, he'll be, like, 'So-and-so was just dying to talk to me.' He'll tell everyone who listens that he launched the careers of Paris Hilton and Michelle Rodriguez."

In fact, Alexander has known Hilton since she was in her mid-teens. He has also bragged of a close friendship with Lydia Hearst Shaw, calling the model and socialite his "muse," despite her private expressions of distaste for him.

If those around him didn't view him as a potential criminal, perhaps it's because Alexander is ostentatiously spiritual, says the former friend. "He always talks about good karma, how what you put out there is what you get back," she says. "Ironic, huh?"

Photo: Chris Ford/PatrickMcMullan.com