Talent and modelling agency Talent Management has just heard about some questionable modelling work which will reportedly be made available to models from all over China during the coming months.

The country’s largest shopping site – Taobao.com – began a website in 2010 which currently features over 40,000 ‘Tao Girls’ from cities across the country – such as Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou and Shenzhen. According to China Hush, the company is now in the process of setting up a brand new logistics / delivery service with a rather odd twist involving the Tao Girls. China Hush stated: “Tao Girls today has developed into a platform of internet models where beautiful girls show off their beauty and outfits as well as posting their prices for internet modelling and waiting to be hired”.

Consumers purchasing goods will – if they so desire – be able to choose a Tao Girl from the website to deliver those goods to their door. This service will reportedly be offered for just an extra ten yuan – that’s around £1 – on top of usual costs. Though the story is being reported on by a number of sources, Taobao is said not to be commenting officially themselves. According to translators at the Huffington Post a reporter for China Broadcast Web was told when he questioned a Taobao representative: “the media saw this issue and came directly to us to ask, but there’s nothing we can say.”

The public however do appear to have plenty to say about this rather odd story. Alec O commented in a China Hush thread: “Wonder if they’re accompanied when they make the deliveries. If not, could be dangerous.” He was instantly referred to as an ‘innocent farm boy’ by the next person to comment. D Raymond posted this comment below the Huffington Post report: “So essentially this is a web-cam girls site that wants to increase traffic by also allowing out-call escorts but can’t actually come out and offer it. So they offer for a small price to have the girl come and deliver some trivial purchase. At which point the customer can offer a large tip to, let’s say ‘come in and unwrap the package’ and then once inside further negotiations can occur. Because, even at China’s ridiculously low wages ten yuan alone makes no economic sense for personal delivery service.”

What do you think about this proposed ‘delivery service’? Is it a credible and viable business plan or is something else going on?