I am GNC now, and I consider myself to be quite gnc as a kid, too.

I hated dresses, I only wore them maybe once or twice and then decided I hated them lol. Same with skirts. Same with make up. I remember well how my mom put some make up on my eyes when I was like 8 or 9 (which is like, wtf), and hated the process of putting it on, and the process of getting it off. I hated wearing it, it always itched and I couldn't touch my face. I NEVER worn make up since)

I have VERY thick almost black hair (I'm white btw). My mom kept my hair long till I turned 11. Before that, it went up to about my waist or even lower. It was really heavy. I cut it first to above shoulder length (they didn't allow me shorter at that time even though I wanted to), and... Ah. I remember sitting in a hairdresser and feeling the weight go away and feeling free. I remember going outside right after that and feeling wind rub through my neck. It was incredible. I still remember that day so well, it makes me tear up. A year later I cut my hair to a "boy's haircut", as we call it here. It was kinda ugly, as all teenagers' haircuts are lmao, but I was happy.

I also loved climbing up trees, and just more physical games in general.

However, I also had some dolls and kinda enjoyed them? And I loved, if you remember them, WITCH and Winx cartoons xD I wanted to fly like them too. Anyway, while I was gnc in these ways, I still dressed more like a girl, I guess? Just no dresses or skirts or pink (hated punk too lmao).

One interesting thing to note, is that I grew my hair to about shoulder blade level and wore skirts for a while when I was really depressed and selfharmed regularly (it was 3-2 years ago). I hated how I looked back then, hated looking into the mirror, but I only now get why, kinda.

Now I'm back to short hair again and feeling free and happy once more, just like back then, in that warm summer day when I cut my hair for the first time))

As to your question, one thing I always hated and never understood, is why girls wear make up. I am a lesbian, obviously, and I don't find women who wear make up pretty or hot. Its just weird) I felt this way since I was about 11-12. I thought: "Why are you changing your face, you're already pretty", when I was a preteen. I still don't get it. And it wastes your time too! Just why? And I agree with your frustration at being boxed into the "feminine-masculine" thing. I also have mixed interests and behaviors, and don't get the whole thing. ESPECIALLY in the lesbian community, who seem to have weird stereotypes about masculine women, which I personally don't fit into.

Sorry for the wall of text)) I find it hard to restrict myself.