The 11 years old girl, Amy Diop, has just moved to Paris from Senegal with her mother, Mariam, and her two younger brothers, one being named Ismaël. Amy does not know if their father is coming too, as her mother only gives vague answers when she asks.
At her new school, she quickly becomes aware of a group of other 11 year old girls, who mostly strut around in short skirts and cropped tops and call themselves “the Cuties”. In the girls' bathroom, they talk about sex and watch porn, but they do not understand what it means. The girls, Angelica, Coumba, Jess and Yasmine, like to dance and are preparing to compete in a dance competition. This lifestyle seems to be in complete contradiction to the views Amy is taught about in the Muslim prayer meetings, she and her mother attend, where women are sworn to obey their husbands. Amy does not want to cause her mother any grief, as she found out that her father plans to take another wife. Amy’s mother keeps it a secret that this woman is supposed to also live in their home in Paris and live with her father. Although Mariam views it as his failure that she is not enough for him, she is put under pressure by the aunt of the second wife and agrees to host the wedding.
The energetic Angelica lives in the apartment above them. Therefore, Amy often meets her in the laundry room, where she watches them dance unnoticed. She secretly watches videos of the Cuties on a smartphone that she stole from her cousin to learn their choreography and moves. She becomes fascinated by this world of YouTube videos and social media. Amy and Angelica become friends and tell each other about their worries and wishes. Soon Amy is accepted into the group and spends more time with them. After an argument Yasmine is thrown out of the group and Amy takes her place, whereupon she teaches the Cuties new moves. Following soon, Amy goes to school dressed in short and belly-button free clothes. She gets involved in a fight with another girl, who films her classmates. Due to this incident, Amy's mother learns about her daughter's behavioural changes. Also, she finds out that Amy stole money from her and went on a shopping spree with her friends. She has a breakdown. As her the wedding is approaching, Amy has to help with cooking preparations. She therefore comes too late to the audition but is nevertheless invited to the final.
When her cousin finds out that Amy has stolen his smartphone, she tries to expose herself in front of him so that she does not have to give it back to him, to which he reacts angrily and ashamed. Before she gives it back to him, Amy quickly photographs her shame/genitals and posts the photo. Her friends consider this as too far and exclude Amy and take Yasmine back in. Angelica tries to stay friends with her anyway.
Preparations for the arrival of the father and his second wife from Senegal are near completion. However, the wedding takes place on the same day as the dance finals. Amy escapes from home to get there, and during the trip there, she pushes Yasmine into some water, whereupon she takes her place in the group again. While the men in the audience take pleasure with the girls' performance, the women are outraged about it. However, Amy storms off the stage crying and runs back home. Her mother protects her from the aunt and tells her that she does not have to come to the wedding if Amy does not want to.
