Adriana Lima on Modeling After Victoria's Secret Retirement: 'Life Is Just as Busy and I Love It'

Adriana Lima may have announced her retirement from Victoria’s Secret in November, but the legendary VS Angel is not taking a break from her bustling modeling career. In fact, she’s as busy as ever at the moment.

“When I announced that I would no longer be with Victoria’s Secret, I think everyone thought I was going to a different planet,” Lima, 37, tells PEOPLE exclusively. “I have been working a lot and am continuing to work on new projects and taking care of my two beautiful daughters. Life is just as busy as it has always been and I love it that way.”

One of her most recent projects includes a spot in the new celeb-studded commercial for the $690 million renovation of the Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas. The model was on-hand to show off the hotel’s over-the-top food and restaurant offerings, posing at a giant table filled with gourmet food as two Samurai soldiers fighting in front of her.

“I had a huge suite for my stay so everything was super over-the-top that I should have known right then what I was in for when filming the commercial,” she says about her experience at the new-and-improved luxury hotel, opening April 5. “I walk in and it’s this amazing table with lots of food and then two Samurai’s jump on the table and start to battle when the director yelled action. It took a lot of composure to look cool and serious because I wanted to die laughing each take.”

She was also tempted to devour the elaborate array of food in front of her on set. “I’m Brazilian, I see food and I cannot control myself,” she says. “But, I actually didn’t eat the food on the table because it was too pretty to touch, instead I was given a tour of the kitchen and the chef kept giving me special things he was making.”

The rest of the campaign video follows other stars, including Cardi B, Emily Ratajkowski, Ezra Miller, Rita Ora, producer/DJ Marshmello, chef Michael Symon, designer Dapper Dan as they experience the other amenities the hotel has to offer. Lima reveals that interaction between other talent was minimal due to scheduling conflicts, and she was most upset that she missed out on hanging with one person in particular.

“We shot scenes individually and I’m sad Cardi B and I filmed on separate days,” Lima says. “I actually had a chance to meet her at the Tom Ford show in New York City and she was so sweet. I’m a big fan of hers.”

RELATED: Adriana Lima Is Retiring from Victoria’s Secret After 20 Years: ‘Thank You for Teaching Me to Fly’

She may have missed Cardi B, but says she regularly still sees her VS Angel family. “I still see the girls all of the time at shoots or events,” she says. “I was just with Josephine [Skriver] the other day for a Maybelline campaign. It’s a little family. Once you’re an Angel, you’re always an Angel.”

And that means still training like one. Lima is known for posting motivating workout pics from her training sessions on Instagram, and says it’s the physical and mental results that keep her so focused. “There is nothing like seeing that one muscle you’ve been working hard for suddenly appear doing that one move you never could do and now can,” she says. “It’s not just physical, it’s mental. Helping yourself achieve goals. Good music and cute workout clothes obviously also help too.”

While she’s keeping mum on announcing other new gigs she has coming up, she ensures that “my fans will be the first to know.”