Bidders keen on human billboard

Aspiring marketing guru Anna Cudby has received plenty of interest since listing herself as a "human billboard" on online auction site Trade Me, but the bidding is yet to begin.

By selling advertising space on a blank T-shirt, which she offered to wear 24/7 for up to five months, the 21-year-old hoped to kick start her career and pay off a $25,000 student loan accumulated in three years of study at Massey University in Wellington.

Businesses could pay $5000 a month to have her promote their brand.

"I am stoked and amazed that it's had so much attention in the media - there have been 13,550 views on the page and there are 374 watchers," Ms Cudby told Hawke's Bay Today.

While she had received plenty of encouraging messages, not all of the attention had been favourable.

"I have had a bit of criticism but I'm not taking it personally. Those people don't know me and on top of that there are so many people out there who are incredibly supportive and I am so very thankful for that."

Since launching the auction, Ms Cudby had received a few offers of jobs or sponsorships but nothing was set in stone.

"I had interest from a gentlemen's club but I turned that down because it didn't really fit with my values.

There are potentially future job offers - a couple of people have expressed interest."

Though her auction had been popular, the ex-Central Hawke's Bay College student was also promoting her idea to various companies throughout the country.

"I have been in contact with rental car and drink companies, phone companies such as 2degrees and Skinny - who said it was a good idea and they would pass it on to their marketing team."

Now it was a waiting game to see who would place the first bid.

"It's become so well known and I'm really excited for the bigger picture and for the bidding to start."

Find the auction on Trade Me using the key words, "Sponsor a degree" or "Anna Cudby".