At Madame Cecile's Paris dress shop, Marie and her father, General de Villefranche, shop for her trousseau. Her father wants her to marry soldier Paul de St. Cyr, but she is in love with René, another soldier in her father's Foreign Legion regiment. Paul himself is in love with Fifi, a model at Maison Cecile. Fifi intends to become a great singer and is working there to pay for her lessons. While shopping at Maison Cecile, Count de St. Cyr, Paul's father, overhears Paul and Fifi planning their elopement. He learns Fifi's address and visits her that evening. At first Fifi refuses the count's offer of money, but when he explains that everyone will shun Paul if he marries her, she agrees not to marry him unless asked by the count himself. When Paul arrives, she pretends to have been after him for his money in order to become a singer. He believes her and leaves. Using an assumed name, she gets a job singing in a cabaret. Paul searches for her everywhere but fails to find her before his regiment is shipped to Algiers. Meanwhile, Fifi is singing opera to standing ovations. Without knowing who she is, the count invites her to sing at a party for Paul's returning regiment. Paul is delighted to see her, although his father still expects him to marry Marie. While Marie and René plot their elopement, Fifi is charming the audience with her singing. Finally, Paul insists that he will marry Fifi no matter what his father says. Impressed that his son is finally taking a stand, the count gives his consent.