I wouldn’t even really call that ‘competing’. There are some immovable objects that just… are. If you write fantasy, your work will be compared to Tolkien. And Tolkien will always win that popularity contest. Complaining about is as useful as complaining about the wind blowing or the setting of the sun.

It’s difficult to get in ANY established field, especially if you do ‘the same thing but worse’ than established greats in your chosen field. Either get better, find better ways to be visible or do something else entirely. Not everyone’s cut out to be a fantasy writer. Maybe she’d have more luck writing say, a travel guide.