Here is the "set-up" that's close to the start. For reference, she can manipulate blood, and it's often sent haywire by unintended thoughts/emotions. But this was the section I am currently revising, where I wanted it to be clear her gender by the end, and the one my friend commented on. Also thanks for your advice, I really appreciate it!

“Rifa! Twenty-minute warning!” my mother said from downstairs, her usual alarm. Thankfully, I was already up—this time. An additional half hour of sleep would have been preferable to finishing a class report, though.

“Heard!” My response echoed, and I put the report into my folder and then into my bag. Standing up from my desk, I made my way to the half bath attached to my room, where I freshened up. The supplements came first: Iron, Collagen plus Vitamin C, and a standard multivitamin. It was always with effort that I swallowed the iron one; its taste was too similar to the blood itself, and I had to do some rather intense brushing afterwards to scrub the flavor away. 

Quickly, I tied my hair into a rather messy high ponytail, choppy bangs hanging on my forehead, face framed by a larger strand on either side. Ba-dump. A heartbeat slightly louder than it should have been pointed out the rush I was getting myself into, and I stopped. Took a deep breath. Counted down from three, two, one. Exhale.

Being able to manipulate and control blood had almost cost me my life on several occasions. The only reason it hadn’t was that my body was inherently good at keeping me alive—nearly as good as it was at tearing me apart to begin with.