I grew up in the US and can confirm that puberty is a Very Big Deal there. But me personally didnโ€™t think a lot about it. Iโ€™m NB transmasc and puberty didnโ€™t really affect me in any body image way, besides a period which I am less than thrilled about.
I knew since I was 13 I think. But Iโ€™m built more masc naturally so it could just be me.