Wow! Judging from the comments I had received, I would've thought I was sharing bottom 2 with Bey_Rih, so seeing me 4th shocked me! (Well...I actually skipped comments and ctrl+f'd my name to see my ranking, then went back to look at comments).
As for the BG thing, I was *trying* to link the shade from the trees to the shadiness of the smiley, and I also wanted space filler because it looks so boring by itself...but the entries like this and the gif challenge aren't happening anymore, so don't worry about that.
My ranks so far:
6 > 7 > 10 > 10 (bottom 2) > 5 > 6 > 3 (2) > 4
I'm pretty sure out of all remaining contestants, I have the lowest average.

I have been kicking it in gear ever since my bottom 2, though.
Hopefully I unexpectedly come and slay like P!nk later on.