In (one's/its) own right

Posted by ESC July 14, 2004In reply to In (one's/its) own right posted by Jules on July 13, 2004

What does this mean, exactly? Is it redundant?
"She's an exciting author in her own right."
Trying to find the origin and all I get is the actual phrase itself as applied to various subjects. Is it an idiom?

Merriam-Webster:

RIGHT
1 : qualities (as adherence to duty or obedience to lawful authority) that together constitute the ideal of moral propriety or merit moral approval
2 : something to which one has a just claim.

In one's own right: by virtue of one's own qualifications or properties.