Prior to the modeling sessions, Shuster's co-creator, Jerry Siegel, had developed an idea for a journalist to be Superman's love interest, Lois Lane.

Interviewed in 1996 by The Plain Dealer, she recalled, "I remember the day I met Jerry in Joe's living room.

"[2][3] The New York Times wrote, "Ms. Siegel was the first in a long line of Lois Lanes, who have included Phyllis Coates, Noel Neill, Teri Hatcher, and Erica Durance on television, as well as Margot Kidder in the movies.

[1] The Siegels led a modest lifestyle, their daughter recalled: "My mother and father lived in complete poverty for many, many years.

"[2] Siegel worked for a time as one of California's early car saleswomen, she sold new and used Chevys from a lot in Santa Monica, to help support the family.

At one point, she called the publisher of Superman and said, "How can you sit by and continue to make millions of dollars off of a character that Jerry co-created and allow him to live in this unbelievable poverty?

[7] In 2008, Siegel secured a further ruling from a federal court in Los Angeles restoring her husband's co-authorship share of the original Superman copyrights.

[8][9] In a 72-page decision, the Court ruled that Jerry Siegel was entitled to claim a share of the United States copyright to Superman while leaving intact DC Comics' international rights to the character.