Diane Tucker won the Mrs. America 2006 pageant on Wednesday.

Tucker, an account executive for Argent Mortgage in Tucson, Ariz., currently handles a territory of 700 brokers in Arizona.

Tucker was up against fifty other contestants who converged at the Loews Ventana Canyon Resort in Tucson over the last two weeks to compete for the coveted crown.

Representing the host state, Tucker said she enjoyed the experience and shared the stage with women of all professions including doctors, lawyers and a member of the FBI.

Hosted by John O’Hurley, known for competing in Dancing with the Stars and playing Seinfeld’s J. Peterman, the event culminated with a very surprised Tucker being crowned Mrs. America.

“I was in total shock; I couldn’t believe it,” Tucker said in a phone interview with MortgageDaily.com.

A University of Arizona graduate, 29-year-old Tucker said she has worked in the mortgage industry for almost five years.

Although she will be traveling extensively over the next year, she said her weekend appearances in Arizona and occasional trips to New York and California would not interfere with her position at Argent.

“I’m fortunate enough I get to keep my job,” she said.

Tucker said her platform includes raising breast cancer awareness with the Mrs. America Organization’s promotional partner — Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation — noting she has had three women in her family who have been affected by breast cancer.

photo of Diane Tucker

Promotional efforts for the pageant’s partners and for events such as the Race For the Cure can total about 100 appearances that Tucker will attend as Mrs. America, the organization said. Bob Mazza, a spokesman for the Mrs. America Organization, said Tucker won over $70,000 in cash and prizes as well as the opportunity to earn more than $25,000 in paid appearances over the next year. “Diane is a terrific lady and we are very happy to have her as a part of the Mrs. America Organization,” he told MortgageDaily.com. The debut telecast of the Mrs. America 2006 TV special is Saturday Sept. 23 at 8 p.m. EST. It will air again at 10 p.m. EST and on Sept. 24 at 6 p.m. EST. A spokesman for the Irvine, Calif.-based subprime wholesaler told MortgageDaily.com the company is “very happy for her.”