Or she asked politely. I find that the younger you are the easier it is to get things.
When I was in high school I wanted to get into video games badly. I found someone at the local EA office, got to meet him, got introduced around, and even got his mentorship on a few projects. All of this, I think, based on the notion that I'm a smart-lookin' 16 year-old student.
Try getting that with just a phone call when you're out of school and in your 20s and 30s.
So, this work was either given to her, or she worked her *ss off to get there.